Caps (5-0-0, 10 points) vs. Flyers (4-0-1, 8 points)
What – Game #6
Where –Wells Fargo Center
When – 7 p.m.
TV – CSN HD
Radio – WFED-1500 AM
Can’t get an NHL game in October much better than this one. The Caps and Flyers have combined for 19 of the 20 standings points available to them this season. And while neither side has played perfect hockey, it’s been more than good enough to avoid the dreaded slow start.
Bruce Boudreau said his team will use the next two games, including Saturday’s home game against the Red Wings, as an early measuring stick. Same can be said of the Flyers, who have seamlessly worked new faces into the lineup – Jaromir Jagr, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Sean Couturier and – for the first time in tonight’s game – prized prospect Brayden Schenn. He was just recalled from AHL Adirondack and will make his Flyers debut against Washington.
Schenn was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings along with Simmonds for disgruntled captain Mike Richards this summer. Voracek arrived in another deal with Columbus for Jeff Carter – Philly’s leading goal-scorer last season – and Couturier was selected with the draft pick the Flyers picked up in that trade. He was the No. 8 overall selection in June and is already making an impact in the NHL.
And, of course, the Flyers signed Jaromir Jagr, the onetime Capitals winger, back from Russia’s KHL after a three-year hiatus. The 39-year-old still looks like a force on the power play. Hasn’t scored a goal yet, but Jagr the playmaker can still bring it. He has four assists.
“The personnel changed a little bit, but I think their game is still the same,” Washington goalie Tomas Vokoun said. “They still have lots of skill, a good goalies. Good overall team. It’s a team we are in a race for first place [with] so it’s a big game.”
Again, limited news update on the health of Jay Beagle, who didn’t make the trip to Philadelphia. He was knocked out thanks to a couple of Arron Asham punches in Pittsburgh last week. Does he have a concussion? The term “protocol” was thrown around by Boudreau earlier this week and that’s usually code for concussion. Boudreau wasn’t going that far, however.
“You can infer whatever you want to infer,” Boudreau told reporters at the morning skate in Philadelphia. “We’re just saying it’s day-to-day.”
Michal Neuvirth remains out with that bruised right foot. Dany Sabourin is tonight’s backup goalie. Expect the same lines as Tuesday’s game vs. Florida.
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Brouwer
Semin-Johansson-Knuble
Chimera-Laich-Ward
Hendricks-Perreault-Halpern
D-pairings: Alzner-Carlson; Hamrlik-Green; Schultz-Wideman. Vokoun to start in goal.
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