Photographer: Kate Frese
Game 44 Preview: Zepp in net again as Flyers face Capitals
I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.
All posts by Kevin DursoPublished14 Jan 2015
The Flyers last trip to the ice couldn't have gone any better from an offensive standpoint. A 7-3 win gave the Flyers a winning record in the four straight home games they had following an eight-game road trip.
One of those wins came against Wednesday night's opponent. The Flyers make a brief trip away from home to face the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. The opening face-off is set for 8 p.m.
The Flyers have won three of their last four games after dropping five straight to close the road trip.
The Flyers have three players entering on hot streaks. Jake Voracek has four points in his last three games. Claude Giroux has a four-game point streak, picking up five points. Mark Streit has six points in his last four games.
The lineup remains the same with one exception. With Braydon Coburn out for four weeks with a lower-body injury, Carlo Colaiacovo returns to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 19.
Rob Zepp is back in goal for the Flyers for the second straight game. Zepp made 21 saves in Monday's win against Tampa Bay. He has a 2-0-0 record with a 3.00 GAA and .885 save percentage in two starts this season.
The Capitals are a red hot team at the moment with wins in seven of their last 10 games. Washington has also won four of the last five games. Their only loss came last Thursday in overtime to the Flyers.
The Captials don't have the same points streaks riding on this game like they did on their trip to Philadelphia. Nicklas Backstrom has three points in his last three games. Troy Brouwer has two points in his last two games.
Backstrom leads the Capitals with 42 points including a team-leading 29 assists. Alex Ovechkin leads Washington with 22 goals on the season.
Marcus Johansson and Eric Fehr are also dangerous forwards for the Capitals.
Defensively, John Carlson and Mike Green pace the Capitals offensively – Carlson has 31 points, third on the team. Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik are also key players on the blue line.
In goal, the Flyers will once again face Braden Holtby. Holtby is 21-8-7 this season with a 2.23 GAA and .923 save percentage.
- Power Play: Flyers (5th, 13th on road), Capitals (4th, 6th at home)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (30th, 29th on road), Capitals (23rd, 23rd at home)
- The Flyers defeated the Captials on Jan. 8, 3-2, in overtime. Jake Voracek scored the game-winning goal on the power play in overtime. Sean Couturier and R.J. Umberger also scored for the Flyers in the win.
Flyers scratches: Steve Mason, Braydon Coburn, Nick Grossmann, Zac Rinaldo
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Brayden Schenn-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Wayne Simmonds-Scott Laughton-Michael Raffl
Line 3: R.J. Umberger-Sean Couturier-Matt Read
Line 4: Zac Rinaldo–Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Vincent Lecavalier
D-Pair 1: Mark Streit-Andrew MacDonald
D-Pair 2: Michael Del Zotto-Nick Schultz
D-Pair 3: Carlo Colaiacovo-Luke Schenn
Goalie: Rob Zepp
Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Kevin Durso is the managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @Kevin_Durso.
