Flyers

Round Robin Game 2 Preview: Flyers-Capitals

By
Kevin Durso
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Kevin Durso Sports Editor

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 Durso
Sports Editor

Published06 Aug 2020

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By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Round Robin Game 2 Preview: Flyers-Capitals

If the Flyers wanted to find a way to move up from the fourth seed to the first seed, they were very likely going to need to sweep competition in the Round Robin. They got off to a good start with a 4-1 win over Boston on Sunday.

Heading into the second game of the three-game Round Robin on Thursday afternoon against the Washington Capitals, the Flyers are very much in control of their own destiny in many ways. Boston lost again on Wednesday to Tampa Bay, 3-2. If the Flyers can get a point against Washington, they will officially move up at least one seed and finish no lower than the third-seed in the playoffs. If they win in regulation, they can lock up a top-two seed and set up a game where the winner takes the top seed when they play again on Saturday.

But first, they have to handle the Capitals, who bring offensive firepower, solid defense and an experienced netminder to this tournament. 

Game time is 4 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Washington Capitals GP G A P
Michael Raffl 1 1 1 2 Richard Panik 1 1 0 1
Phil Myers 1 1 0 1 Evgeny Kuznetsov 1 1 0 1
Scott Laughton 1 1 0 1 Dmitry Orlov 1 0 1 1
Nate Thompson 1 1 0 1 Nicklas Backstrom 1 0 1 1
Travis Sanheim  1 0 1 1 Lars Eller 1 0 1 1
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 8 Alex Ovechkin
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, +1 Last 5 Games: 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E
 
In the exhibition game, the top two lines handled the production. In Sunday's game against Boston, the fourth line was the driver. It could be the captain's turn to make a big contribution. Claude Giroux had an assist in the exhibition and was held without a point on Sunday.
 
Alex Ovechkin had a big debut in the bubble in the exhibition with a pair of goals, then was held off the board by the Lightning. The Flyers have done a good job of keeping him quiet throughout the season, but he always needs to be accounted for on the ice.
 
Projected Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 70 Braden Holtby
0 GP, 0-0-0, -.– GAA, .— SV% 1 GP, 0-0-1, 1.85 GAA, .929 SV%

We already knew Brian Elliott was going to get a start at some point during the Round Robin. Given the potential magnitude of Saturday's game against Tampa, this would be the time to get Elliott into a game. Elliott has faced the Capitals twice this season, winning both starts.

Braden Holtby gets back between the pipes for the Capitals on Thursday. The veteran goalie for the Capitals made 26 saves on 28 shots in a shootout loss to the Lightning on Monday. 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
21 Scott Laughton 13 Kevin Hayes 11 Travis Konecny
49 Joel Farabee 38 Derek Grant 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
25 James van Riemsdyk 44 Nate Thompson 18 Tyler Pitlick
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 15 Matt Niskanen  
6 Travis Sanheim 5 Phil Myers  
8 Robert Hagg 61 Justin Braun  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott 79 Carter Hart  

Capitals Projected Lineup

Left Wing Center Right Wing
8 Alex Ovechkin 92 Evgeny Kuznetsov 43 Tom Wilson
13 Jakub Vrana 19 Nicklas Backstrom 77 T.J. Oshie
62 Carl Hagelin 72 Travis Boyd 17 Ilya Kovalchuk
14 Richard Panik 26 Nic Dowd 21 Garnet Hathaway
Defense    
4 Brenden Dillon 9 Dmitry Orlov  
6 Michal Kempny 33 Radko Gudas  
34 Jonas Siegenthaler 3 Nick Jensen  
Goalie    
70 Braden Holtby 41 Vitek Vanecek  

Lineup Notes

  • Flyers: James van Riemsdyk and Connor Bunnaman rotated spots on the fourth line in practice on Wednesday. Alain Vigneault said he is expecting more out of van Riemsdyk, and also eluded to other changes at forward for Thursday. That leaves the possibility that van Riemsdyk may not play as a coach's decision, but it would be more likely that the demotion to the fourth line is more of the message being sent.
  • Capitals: Lars Eller will miss Thursday's game, as he has returned home for the birth of his second child. Defenseman John Carlson, who left early in the exhibition and missed the first Round Robin game, is a game-time decision for Thursday.

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-18th), Capitals (T-7th)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-1st), Capitals (T-23rd)
  • Recent History vs. Capitals
    • Nov. 13, 2019 – Capitals 2, Flyers 1 (F/SO) (at PHI)
    • Jan. 8, 2020 – Flyers 3, Capitals 2 (at PHI)
    • Feb. 8, 2020 – Flyers 7, Capitals 2 (at WSH)
    • March 4, 2020 – Flyers 5, Capitals 2 (at WSH)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Capitals
    • Claude Giroux – 45 GP, 22 G, 23 A, 45 P
    • Sean Couturier – 33 GP, 8 G, 15 A, 23 P
    • Jake Voracek – 39 GP, 15 G, 19 A, 34 P
    • Brian Elliott – 19 GP, 10-7-0, 3.09 GAA, .895 SV%

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia/NBCSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic/97.3 ESPN

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