The Capitals and Flyers will do battle tonight in front of a national television audience on NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry. Puck drop is 8 PM. The Caps held a morning skate at Wells Fargo Center this morning to prepare for the matchup. Having lost their last two games, the Capitals will be looking to get their first post bye-week win.
MORNING SKATE
Here’s what the lines are expected to look like tonight. Keep in mind the forward lines remain the same. The only difference is on the defensive pairings with Taylor Chorney in for Nate Schmidt on the third line.
Forwards
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Johansson-Kuznetsov-Williams
Connolly-Eller-Sanford
Winnik-Beagle-Wilson
Defensemen
Alzner-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Chorney
Schmidt and Travis Boyd took the scratches’ skate. For Chorney, this will be the first time he suits up for a game since Jan. 26th. He’s been scratched for the last nine games. Braden Holtby was the first goalie off the ice so he will get the start in goal tonight. Michal Neuvirth will get the start in goal for the Flyers.
Tonight will be Lars Eller’s 500th NHL game in his career. He wasn’t aware of tonight’s until he got a text from his father yesterday. “It’s a lot of games, a lot of years, a lot of experiences,” Eller told the media. “It’s been a fun ride and hope to continue to keep it going.”
SCENES FROM PHILLY
Before the team bus arrived, a couple fans went fishing in hopes of getting an autograph from Alex Ovechkin:
Gotta respect the effort #CapsFlyers pic.twitter.com/xqjmzgiZF3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 22, 2017
Tom Wilson, nice dude, takes a couple selfies. pic.twitter.com/4V1HCqIrS2
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 22, 2017
Morning skating in Philly #CapsFlyerspic.twitter.com/FpGUirFjzT
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 22, 2017
Tonight’s keeper #CapsFlyers pic.twitter.com/ad9axc779e
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 22, 2017
GAME CHIPS
- Tonight is the third of four meetings between the Capitals and Flyers this season.
- Washington is 1-0-1 against Philadelphia as each club won their game on home ice.
- For our game preview click here.
SHAVINGS
- Justin Williams needs one more assist for the 400th of his career.
- Nicklas Backstrom is one goal away from passing Dennis Maruk (182) for ninth place on the all-time Capitals goal list.
- Washington leads the NHL in goals against (121), goals against per game (2.09) and five-on-five goals against (75) this season.
- Nicklas Backstrom has recorded a point in eight consecutive games (four goals, 10 assists), marking his second point streak of eight for more games this season (10 games from 1/5-1/23).
- The Capitals have scored 18 power play goals in their last 19 games, posting a 34.6% power-play percentage during that span.
- Backstrom has registered 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) in 36 career games against the Flyers.
- The Capitals have tallied a point in 22 of their last 25 games (19-3-3) and have posted a 26-5-4 record since Dec. 5.
DAILY LINKS
Game Notes at Philadelphia, 2/22/17 (Capitals PR)
Caps Face Flyers in Philly (Mike Vogel)
SKATE SHAVINGS: News and Notes From Caps’ Morning Skate (Mike Vogel)
INTERVIEWS
Rinkside Update: Tom Wilson
Rinkside Update | @tom_wilso sits down with @vogscaps about shutting down the Flyers power play #CapsFlyers pic.twitter.com/yJLknRywY8
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 22, 2017
Lars Eller
Caps Forward @Eller_89 comments on playing in his 500th NHL game tonight in Philadelphia #CapsFlyers pic.twitter.com/5XdbeZrGG1
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 22, 2017
Barry Trotz
Head Coach Barry Trotz after this morning’s #CapsFlyers morning skate pic.twitter.com/MDLTPSh4m1
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 22, 2017
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo
