Photo: NHL.com
The Washington Capitals fell in a shootout to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night at Capital One Arena. The team heads to the City of Brotherly Love for the first of four meetings this season with the Flyers on Wednesday. Action from Wells Fargo Center begins at 7:30 P.M. ET on NBCSN.
Capitals
Washington leads the league and the Metropolitan Division with a record of 13-2-4 and 30 points. The Capitals have gone 8-1-1 on the road thus far this season. Against the Flyers, the Capitals are 86-103-11. Last season, Washington swept the four-game season series with their division rival. The team scored a combined 18 goals on Philly.
Defenseman John Carlson remains the leader in points (29) and in assists (21). He has picked up six points in his last three games. Captain Alex Ovechkin has scored 13 goals for Washington.
Missing his third game on Wednesday night, forward Carl Hagelin will not be traveling to Philly. He sustained an upper-body injury and has missed the last two games. Head Coach Todd Reirden said Hagelin has not resumed skating yet and is listed as day-to-day.
Goaltender Braden Holtby is expected to start against the Flyers. He last started at Capital One Arena for a Saturday night matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights. Holtby made 30 saves and allowed two goals in the 5-2 win. With Goals-Against-Average of 3.25, Holtby has a Save Percentage of .898 and has gone 8-1-3 in 13 games played.
The Capitals are seventh in the league on the power play with a 23.9% efficiency. They have an 85.5% penalty kill efficiency, which places Washington sixth overall. Ovechkin has recorded five power play goals. His latest came in the 5-4 overtime victory against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center. Defenseman Radko Gudas has picked up 21 penalty minutes.
Flyers
The Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday at TD Garden and improved to a four-game win streak. Ranked third in the Metropolitan Division and eighth in the NHL, Philly has gone 10-5-2 with 22 points. In addition, the Flyers are 6-1-1 this season at Wells Fargo Center. The team’s history against Washington is 114-78-8.
Center Travis Konecny has picked up 19 points (8 goals) for Philadelphia. He also leads with 11 assists. Captain Claude Giroux has 12 points (4 goals). Giroux has scored twice in his last five games.
Goaltender Carter Hart made 26 saves and allowed two goals in Philly’s win over the Bruins. His record so far is 6-3-1, Goals-Against Average of 2.71, a Save Percentage of .893, and one shutout.
Goaltender Brian Elliott has not started since the 3-2 Saturday game over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He made 38 saves and allowed two goals in the shootout win. In nine games played (seven started), Elliott’s record is 4-2-1, Goals-Against Average of 2.88, and a Save Percentage of .909.
The Flyers are just shy (11th) of making the Top Ten for the power play as they hold a 21.5% efficiency. With an 85.4% efficiency, the team ranks seventh in the league on the penalty kill. Forward Oskar Lindblom leads with three power play goals. Forwards Chris Stewart and Sean Couturier each have 12 penalty minutes respectively.
By Della Young
Flyers are strongly improved over last two seasons. Caps will have to be strongly improved over what they delivered against AZ Coyotes
Flyers D is susceptible to stretch plays for breakaways. The speed of Kuzy and Vrana will lead to a couple of good scoring chances. Caps have to avoid the d-zone giveaways that have been a problem the past couple of years.
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