There are 82 games in the regular season, H&W will do a deeper dive into the matchups and storylines for the ones we all have circled on our calendars.
The young season has already taken some twists and turns for the Flyers (5-2-2) who got an off-season makeover that rivals a 90’s Teen Movie.
Tonight, they get a first intensive test against a familiar foe in the form of the Washington Capitals (5-1-4) who are currently two points ahead of the Flyers in the Metro – however the Flyers have a game in hand.
Here are the storylines to watch for this rivalry matchup:
PLAYING UP & DOWN
A week ago, Flyer’s nation was riding high after gutting the then undefeated Oilers, and then closing down the Canucks in consecutive nights. That was the last time this team showed anything close to a full game effort.
This week the orange & black just barely took down the Coyotes– a team that resembles District 5 vs. an NHL team – with one period of effort and solid goaltending from Carter Hart. They followed up by dropping an OT contest to the Pens who have a hilariously long IR/Covid list of solid regulars.
A huge miss for two points on the cross-state rival.
It has been more than a week since the Flyers have played good hockey. Can the intensity of the in-conference game spark the Flyers who have seemingly left their structure and competitiveness in Calgary?
I’M OVIE IT
At some point Alex Ovechkin must slow down…right?
Unfortunately for the league and the Flyers that doesn’t look like it is happening anytime soon with the now grizzled superstar notching 10 goals, 9 assists, and a +9 over ten games.
Woof!
He is certainly a special player that the Flyers will try to get the Couturier line against whenever possible to slow him down. The ultra-annoying part of playing the Capitals is that you can’t just focus on Ovechkin. The Caps are currently #5 in goals-for in the league with the likes of Kuznetsov (5G, 8A) and TJ Oshie (4G, 2A) having the ability to pot the puck.
The Flyers are currently 9th in goals-for with a more balanced score sheet between Atkinson (6G, 1A), Giroux (5G, 6A), Coots (4G, 7A), TK (4G, 4A), Farabee (3G, 3A), and Laughton (3G, 0A).
Can the Flyers capitalize on their seemingly more balanced scoring while limiting #8 to force the rest of the Capitals lineup to account for goals?
BLUE LINE BLUES
Soooo is Ellis coming back anytime soon?
The Flyers Defense is reeling a bit with Justin Braun playing admirably with Provy – but realistically that is not sustainable (see last season for reference).
Nick Seeler – heart of a lion, defensive awareness of a lost-puppy at times has been slotted in with Yandle on the 3rd pairing.
The Sanheim and Risto pairing has yet to show the chemistry we were all hoping for.
This blue line is not going to cut it and here is hoping this is the last game that Ellis in M.I.A for the Flyers.
Is it time to give Risto a look with Provy to shake things up a bit? I think we all want to see it at least once, right?? If Ellis cannot go starting next week does Chuck need to seriously consider bringing up Zamula or York for a look in place of Seeler?
While it is unlikely the defensive pairings will get much of an overhaul on a high-stakes rivalry game to start, keep an eye on the pairings and chemistry as the game progresses. It is still early in the season and AV is clearly still tinkering with what can work with the current players he has in the lineup.
BIG GAME – GO FLYERS!
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