Washington Capitals

Game #3 Preview: Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: October 6, 2009 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 6-3-0-0
Caps Game 3 Record: 11-16-6-1
All-Time vs. PHI: 66-94-19-0
All-Time at PHI: 29-56-6-0
Last Season vs. PHI: 2-2-0
Last Meeting: 3/12/09, WAS 2 PHI 1

This Year:

WAS Record: 2-0-0
Standings Points: 4
Division Rank: 1st
Conference Rank: 1st
Last Game: 10/3/09, WAS 6 TOR 4
Streak: Win 2

PHI Record: 2-0-0
Standings Points: 4
Division Rank: 1st
Conference Rank: 1st
Last Game: 10/3/09, PHI 5 NJ 2
Streak: Win 2

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE
Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 9 MORRISON, 28 SEMIN
Forward Line 3: 53 LAING, 39 STECKEL, 17 CLARK
Forward Line 4: 34 KANE, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 23 JURCINA, 3 POTI
Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 2 POTHIER
Goalie: 40 VARLAMOV
Back-up Goalie: 60 THEODORE
Scratch: 92 NYLANDER, 89 SLOAN, 55 SCHULTZ

Philadelphia
Forward Line 1: 12 GAGNE, 18 RICHARDS, 27 PYORALA
Forward Line 2: 19 HARTNELL, 17 CARTER, 48 BRIERE
Forward Line 3: 21 VAN RIEMSDYK, 36 POWE , 28 GIROUX,
Forward Line 4: 13 CARCILLO, 11 BETTS, 14 LAPERRIERE
Defense Pair 1: 20 PRONGER, 44 TIMONEN
Defense Pair 2: 5 COBURN, 25 CARLE
Defense Pair 3: 77 PARENT, SYVRET
Goalie: 29 EMERY
Back-up Goalie: 79 TESLAK

Injuries:
Washington - 16 FEHR (shoulders) IR, 14 FLEISCHMANN (blood clot) IR

Philadelphia - 33 BOUCHER (lower body) DTD, 55 TOLLEFSEN (shoulder) IR

Caps Milestones:
Tom Poti needs 5 points to reach 300 in his career.
Mike Green needs 7 assists to reach 100 in his career.
Mike Knuble needs 4 penalty minute to reach 500 in his career.

Preview:
The Capitals face a big test as they head up I-95 for a matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers. Both teams are 2-0-0 and the “experts” have predicted both to be Cup contenders in the spring. I expect a very physical affair between the two squads as they both want to assert themselves as Eastern Conference Elites and they just do not like each other. The Caps top line has been firing on all cylinders with Alex Ovechkin (3 goals, 3assists), Nicklas Backstrom (0,5), and Alexander Semin (2g,3a) leading the league in points through 2 games. Brooks Laich is up there as well, chipping in with 3 goals and 2 assists. The Caps poured it on the Maple Leafs for the first two periods building a 6-1 lead but allowed the Leafs to make it respectable with 3 goals in the third. The Caps need to be less cute with the lead and stifle any attempts of life once they have the advantage. Most likely this will be a season long effort so we’ll watch for progress. Watch the Capitals power play as the Flyers like to rough up their opposition and the Caps will need to make them pay if they do. I thought John Erskine did an excellent job against the Leafs as he was baited into a fight but wouldn’t go and allow Toronto to get some momentum. Look for a very fast pace with lots of hitting and the Caps pulling it out in the third.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 PHI 3

Official Preview