Flyers Preview: Can Philly Take the Series in Washington?

It wasn’t all doom and gloom over the weekend. Despite a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the Philadelphia Flyers celebrated fifty years of Lou Nolan on Saturday before signing 2022 NCAA National Champion and NCAA points leader Bobby Brink to a 3yr/$3.41mil entry-level contract.

Tonight, Brink makes his NHL debut against the Washington Capitals.

Only the Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and Arizona Coyotes lost their season series to the Flyers. Currently, it’s Philadelphia with the advantage this season against the Capitals. Will the Flyers claim their fourth series victory of the season?

Washington Capitals (28-32-12; 68pts)

Out of the lineup are Carl Hagelin (eye,) Dmitry Orlov (lower body,) and Joe Snively (wrist.) Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Michal Kempny, and Connor McMichael are healthy scratches. Nicklas Backstrom will return to the lineup versus the Philadelphia Flyers.

Here’s the projected lineup for the Washington Capitals:

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Sheary
Johansson-Backstrom-Oshie
Mantha-Eller-Wilson
Larsson-Dowd-Hathaway

Fehervary-Carlson
van Riemsdyk-Jensen
Irwin-Schultz

Samsonov
(Vanecek)

Ilya Samsonov (21-9-4, 2.95GAA, 89.9%SV) is the likely starter for the Capitals. Samsonov is 6-1-0 in his career versus the Flyers.

Nick Jensen (44.4%CF, 120HIT, 34GV, +27) earns the opposing spotlight. Philadelphia has canceled out his production in any metric throughout the season. If Jensen gets onto the stat sheet, it would be a breakthrough versus the Flyers. He’ll likely go head to head with Brink in his debut.

Philadelphia Flyers (23-38-11; 57pts)

Out of the lineup is Ryan Ellis (lower body,) Sean Couturier (back,) and Nick Seeler (lower body.) Keith Yandle, Zack MacEwen, and Oskar Lindblom are healthy scratches. Notably, Brink makes his NHL debut.

Here’s the projected lineup for the Philadelphia Flyers:

Farabee-Hayes-Atkinson
Konecny-Laughton-Tippett
van Riemsdyk-Frost-Brink
Cates-Thompson-Brown

Provorov-York
Sanheim-Ristolainen
Connauton-Attard

Hart
(Jones)

Carter Hart (13-23-7, 3.11GAA, 90.6%SV) will start. Hart is 3-3-1 in his career against the Washington Capitals.

Kevin Hayes (8G, 18A) earns his matchup spotlight. His point streak ceased versus the Anaheim Ducks, but tonight, his position in the lineup is dangerous. He’ll play even strength hockey with Ivan Provorov and Travis Sanheim on the top pair for the first time all season. With the first forward line and defensive pairing on the ice, the Flyers are ready to pepper Samsonov with shots in the offensive zone.

Props/Predictions

Nick Jensen anytime goal (+650)
Kevin Hayes anytime score (+370)
Flyers moneyline (+200)
Correct Score Prediction (+1500): Flyers 4, Capitals 3 (OT)

(Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre)