Washington make their first trip into Flyers territory
10-14 Capitals (3-1-1) at Flyers(2-2-0)
7pm NBC Sports Washington
Last game for Washington: 5-2 win vs New Jersey
Goals: Oshie (2), Ovechkin, Vrana, Backstrom
Assists: Backstrom (3), Kuznetsov (2), Carlson, Ovechkin, Oshie, Smith-Pelly.
Last game for Philadelphia: 6-5 loss at Nashville
Goals: Filppula (2), Konecny, MacDonald, Patrick
Assists: Gostisbehere (2), Voracek (2), Giroux, Laughton, Leier, Weal, Weise.
Keys to the Game
1. Rest vs tired? The Flyers have not played since Tuesday, and should be well rested. On the other hand, the Capitals are playing back-to-back, and three games in the last four days. This should turn out to be interesting to watch how Washington comes out in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
Currently, Grubauer is 0-0-1 with a 3.81 GAA. The Caps have said they will try to keep Holtby fresher during the season, will this be the night for Grubi? During Friday’s practice it seems that the Flyers will start Brian Elliott between the pipes.
2. Brooks Orpik will move up to take Matt Niskanen’s spot as he has been placed on LTIR. Madison Bowey, on recall from Washington could now fill in as the sixth defenseman, or the Capitals could turn to Taylor Chorney to fill the spot.
Injuries
Capitals–Matt Niskanen (upper body injury)
Flyers-None
Notes
Both teams are in the top 10 in Goals Per Game: Washington 6th 4.00, Philadelphia 10th 3.25
This will be the Flyers home opener.
Jakub Vrana has fit in nicely on the line with Kuznetsov and Ovechkin with a goal and three assists so far in five games for the Capitals.
Andre Burakovsky had his first NHL fight of his career last night against the New Jersey Devils. Who would have thought Andre would have a fight this season before Tom Wilson?
WASHINGTON FORWARD LINES
8-Ovechkin, 92-Kuznetsov, 13-Vrana
65-Burakovsky, 19-Backstrom, 77-Oshie
10-Connolly, 20-Eller, 43-Wilson
39-Chiasson, 83-Beagle, 25-Smith-Pelly
WASHINGTON DEFENSEMAN PAIRINGS
44-Orpik, 74-Carlson
55-Ness, 9-Orlov
29-Djoos, 22-Bowey
TONIGHTS STARTING GOALTENDER
31-Grubauer
SCRATCHES FOR THE CAPS
4-Chorney
79-Walker
91-Graovac
2-Niskanen (upper body, week-to-week)
