The Washington Capitals continued their 2021 pre-season schedule on Saturday night with a day trip to Philadelphia to face the Flyers. The game was the first of three-straight preseason road games for the Caps. They will finish their exhibition schedule on Friday night at home against the Flyers.

Earlier in the day the Capitals announced that they had cut an additional 11 players from their 2021-22 training camp. The following players were assigned to the Hershey Bears: Kody Clark, Cody Franson, Shane Gersich (requires waivers), Lucas Johansen (requires waivers), Kale Kessy, Dylan McIlrath (requires waivers), Mason Morelli, Hunter Shepard, Riley Sutter, Eddie Wittchow. Bobby Nardella will continue his rehabilitation in Hershey.

The Bears open training camp this Monday and begin their three-game preseason schedule this Friday. They begin the regular season on Saturday, October 16.

Previous Prospect Preseason Game Notes

• Preseason Game 1 – Bruins at Capitals
• Preseason Game 2 – Devils at Capitals

Starting Lineup

The Capitals’ starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the third preseason game against the Flyers:

Tonight’s lines for #CapsFlyers:

Hagelin – Dowd – Hathaway
Mantha – Kuznetsov – Leason
Sheary – Protas – Pilon
Jonsson-Fjallby – Sgarbossa – Snively

Kempny – van Riemsdyk
Geisser – Schultz
Fehervary – Jensen

Samsonov
Copley

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 2, 2021

Ilya Samsonov got the start in goal for the Capitals and went the distance in this one.

Player Reports

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby
Pos: 4LW
Toi: 10:16
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Plus/Minus: 0

Axel Jonnsson-Fjallby had a quieter game this time out. He had 1:11 on the penalty kill and did well defensively. He had one shot on goal, two hits and no blocked shots. He had the second-best possession metrics among all Capitals prospects (see below). He had one shot on goal and two hits. He was 0 for 1 in faceoffs. Trending: Same

Aliaksei Protas
Pos: 3C
Toi: 12:26
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Plus/Minus: 0

Aliaksei Protas played in his second preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored the game’s first goal (and only goal by the Capitals) by collecting a loose puck in the slot and sniping for the finish.

Protas and the Caps strike first! pic.twitter.com/FTcx6F65f6

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 2, 2021

Protas was called for the Capitals second penalty (tripping), but there were no damages. He seemed to be comfortable with the pace of play, found open ice when he needed to, and made a couple of good backchecking plays. Protas made a nice steal, rush and shot at the end of the second period. Protas had three shots on goal, one behind team-leading Nick Jensen (4). Still no hits or blocked shots for Protas. Protas had the best Corsi For% and Scoring Chances For% among all Capitals prospects. Protas had 2:43 of power play time and five seconds of penalty kill time. Protas was 1 of 5 in faceoffs. Trending: Up

Garrett Pilon
Pos: 3RW
Toi: 14:31
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Plus/Minus: 0

Pilon drew the game’s first penalty and also saw time on the Capitals power play. Pilon was called for the Capitals third penalty of the game, but no damages were done. Pilon did decent work along the boards, won a few, lost a few battles, but he is looking much more efficient in his board work, when compared to last season. Pilon had 3:13 of power play time. Pilon had no shots on goal, no hits or blocked shots. He was 0 for 3 in faceoffs. Trending: Same

Joe Snively
Pos: 4RW
Toi: 11:22
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Plus/Minus: 0

Joe Snively played in his second preseason game after scoring in the Capitals’ preseason opener on Sept. 26 against the Boston Bruins. His presence was much less noticeable than the first game. Snively did have the winning goal in the shootout. He had one shot on goal, no hits or blocked shots in the game. Trending: Same

Brett Leason
Pos: 2RW
Toi: 15:41
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Plus/Minus: 0

Leason appeared in his second preseason game tonight against Philadelphia, and started on the second line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha. He was clipped with the Capitals’ first penalty, which led to the Flyers game-tying goal. Leason had a wide-angle chance in the middle frame that didn’t go, but he read Kuznetsov’s play making well. Leason had a good steal behind the Flyers goal and made a good pass for a decent scoring chance in the middle frame. He was much more noticeable in this game than in his first preseason game. He received a nice feed and ripped one off the pipe from low in the slot early in the second period. Leason’s showing improvement and should contend for a Capitals roster spot next fall. He had 2:30 of power play time. Leason had three shots on goal, one hit and no blocked shots.Trending: Up

Mike Sgarbossa
Pos: 4C
Toi: 15:38
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Plus/Minus: 0

Sgarbossa was all over the ice in this one. Forechecking and backchecking. Very noticeable game for him. He was one of the best Capitals forward prospects in this game. Had the lone assist for the Capitals in this game. Sgarbossa had no shots on goal, one hit and one blocked shot. Sgarbossa had 2:47 of power play time and was 5 of 8 from the dot. Trending: Up

Martin Fehervary
Pos: 3LD
Toi: 19:50
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Plus/Minus: 0

After a sluggish start to his first preseason game, Fehervary looked strong from the start in this one. The Flyers started what could be projected as 95% of their opening night lineup, while the Capitals started numerous prospects. The result was heavy action in the Capitals zone, and the defense did well, only giving up a power play goal in the first period. Fehervary seemed in step with everything the Flyers were doing, making correct coverages on the weak side. He did a good job of controlling the edges and shutting down a number of zone entries by the Flyers. He had 2:30 of power play time and 1:47 of penalty kill time. Fehervary had two shots on goal, no hits and no blocked shots. Trending: Up

Tobias Geisser
Pos: 2LD
Toi: 16:18
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Plus/Minus: 0

Geisser had a good start to this one, with two early steals in the Capitals zone. He held his own in this one. He seemed to be in correct position most of the game that featured a near opening night lineup from the Flyers. He did let a play get behind him in the second period, but Samsonov made the save. He’s come a good distance in the last two seasons. Geisser had one shot on goal, one hit and one blocked shot. He had 18 seconds of penalty kill time and the second-best Corsi for% Capitals prospects. Trending: Up

Advanced Stats

The following graphic presents the corsi for percentages (CF%), scoring chances for percentages (SCF%) and expected goals for percentages (xGF%) for each of the Capitals prospects that played in the first preseason game.

Aliaksei Protas, Axel Jonsson-Djallby and Joe Snively led all Capitals prospects in possession metrics.

The Capitals are back in action on Monday night when they visit the Devils in New Jersey.

By Jon Sorensen