Caps (14-5-1, 29 points) vs. Flyers (12-6-2, 26 points)
What » Game #21
Where » Verizon Center
When » 7 p.m.
TV » CSN HD
Radio » WFED-1500 AM
Two top teams in the Eastern Conference so far trying to put a pair of ugly games behind them. The Caps were blanked in Atlanta on Friday night, 5-0. Meanwhile, the Flyers could at least console themselves with a seven-goal performance on Thursday vs. Tampa. Unfortunately, they gave up eight. Not a good night for one of the league’s top bluelines.
“Considering they were one of the top defensive teams in the league before that game – and they still are – I assume that it was an aberration than the norm,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau, who called Philadelphia’s defensive corps “as good as there is in the league.”
Forward Mike Knuble took a puck off the face last night on a shot by teammate Eric Fehr and will be out a few days, Boudreau said. That will lead to a lineup turnover tonight with Tomas Fleischmann seeing time at left wing. Expect Michal Neuvirth back in goal after he came on in relief of Braden Holtby last night. Washington is taking it easy with Boyd Gordon after his recent injury setbacks. But after last night off he should return to the lineup. So is jumping right back onto the ice the perfect way to forget about Friday’s stinker?
“Sometimes it is. That’s what you talk about. But if you’re in a funk and not playing well then it’s not necessarily a good thing,” Boudreau said. “You’d like to practice a few times. I guess the result, we’ll see tonight if it was a good thing or a bad thing.”
Second time these teams have met in two weeks. The Caps won, 3-2, in overtime on Nov. 7 at Verizon Center. It’s also the top two offenses in the NHL. Each team has 70 goals. Washington posted its second-best start in franchise history through 20 games. Only the 1991-92 team (15-5-0) was better. Caps are 10-1 at Verizon Center and are 4-0-1 against the Flyers since the start of last season.
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