Photo Courtesy of Kate Frese
Fresh off a sound 3-2 shootout victory over Nashville, the Flyers return to Wells Fargo Center ice on Sunday, hosting the Washington Capitals at 12:30 for the fourth and final time this regular season.
The Orange and Black are 2-1 against their Metropolitan Division foes this season, most recently beating them 3-1 on Feb. 8. They also beat the Caps 3-2 in overtime in their first meeting on Jan. 8 — with Jakub Voracek tallying the game-winner — while dropping Jan. 14's matchup 1-0.
The Flyers (25-23-11) also lost Steve Mason during their last meeting, leaving in the midst of a TV timeout with a knee injury. Mason continues to progress following arthroscopic surgery to remove the meniscus in both of his knees.
Claude Giroux has three points so far against the Capitals, while Matt Read, Mark Streit and Sean Couturier each have two. Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom each have two points against the Flyers this season.
The Flyers will start Rob Zepp in goal, in the wake of his 20-save performance against the Predators. The Caps (33-17-10) will counter with Braden Holtby, who just posted a 30-save performance against the Islanders on Saturday en route to a 3-2 shootout win.
The Flyers played some of their best hockey of the season in Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over the Predators, holding their opponent to 23-or-less shots for the 10th time all season. The fewest amount of shots the Orange and Black allowed all season was against the Capitals on Feb. 8, when they recorded just 14 shots. In all three games, the Caps recorded no more than 28 shots, while the Flyers have outshot them by a 79-66 margin.
With a win, the Flyers would move within two points of Boston for the Eastern Conference's second wild card spot, as well as one point behind Florida. The Bruins will be in action Sunday as well, facing Chicago at 3:30, while the Panthers will take on Pittsburgh at 6 p.m.
A win for the Capitals would supplant them over the Rangers for second in the Metro, and just two points behind the Islanders for first place.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (4th, 2nd at home), Capitals (2nd, 4th on road)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, 21st at home), Capitals (16th, 16th on road)
- Wayne Simmonds is looking to expand his career-high seven-game point streak, while Ryan White is looking to continue his four-game point streak.
Flyers scratches: Steve Mason, Luke Schenn, Vincent Lecavalier, Carlo Colaiacovo
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Michael Raffl-Claude Giroux-Wayne Simmonds
Line 2: R. J. Umberger-Brayden Schenn-Ryan White
Line 3: Matt Read-Sean Couturier-Jakub Voracek
Line 4:Chris VandeVelde–Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Zac Rinaldo
D-Pair 1: Nick Schultz-Mark Streit
D-Pair 2: Michael Del Zotto -Braydon Coburn
D-Pair 3:Nicklas Grossmann-Andrew MacDonald
Goalie: Ray Emery
Where to Watch
TV: NBC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
