PREMIUM
Rogers' NHL SURE SHOT >> Nailed +125 Chicago Last Night!
(NHL) Washington vs. Philadelphia,
Money Line: -160.00 Washington (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -160.00 Washington (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 39-12-7 Washington Capitals lead the NHL with 85 points but the Metropolitan Division by just three points, as four teams (including Washington) in that division own 78 points or more, topping Montreal's 77 points which leads the East's other division, the Atlantic. The Caps conclude a three-game road trip tonight against the 28-24-7 Philadelphia Flyers, who return home off a 1-2-0 road trip and are trying to decide if they should be buyers or sellers prior to the March 1 trade deadline.
Washington: The Caps may have the league's best record but they need a win here to prevent matching a season-high three-game losing streak. Washington went into its bye week on a six-game win streak but has lost at Detroit (3-2 in a shootout) and the NY Rangers (2-1) in the first two stops of this trip. "I thought we actually played probably four decent periods out of the six coming out of the break," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "The two first periods were not good." Goaltender Braden Holtby (29-8-5, 2.01 GAA & .926 save percentage) was given the day off on Sunday but is expected to be back in net, tonight.
Philadelphia: The Flyers had a 10-game win streak in November and December but have since gone 9-14-4 with several key players falling into scoring slumps. The Flyers climbed over five teams to nail down the final wild-card playoff berth a year ago. Will we see that again? "Last year, nobody would have guessed we'd make the playoffs, and we did," Flyers right winger Jake Voracek told PhillyNews.com. "We are in a better spot this year than last year, points-wise and standings-wise. We just have to keep it going." I believe that's wishful thinking.
The pick: These teams last met on Jan. 15 in D.C., with the Caps winning in a 5-0 rout. Michal Neuvirth (10-7-1, 2.78 GAA & .890 save percentage) is expected to make his fifth straight start for the Flyers since taking over for Steve Mason, who was pulled in that Jan. 15 rout against the Capitals and has not been the same since. The Capitals have lost back-to-back close games but still own a league-best goal differential of plus-69, far ahead of the Flyers, who have been outscored by 25 this season. Washington is the league's best defensive team, allowing 2.09 GPG and leads the NHL in shutouts (10). The Caps are also the league's second-highest scoring team (3.34), while the Flyers rank just 25th in goals scored at 2.53. Washington is an 8* play.
Washington: The Caps may have the league's best record but they need a win here to prevent matching a season-high three-game losing streak. Washington went into its bye week on a six-game win streak but has lost at Detroit (3-2 in a shootout) and the NY Rangers (2-1) in the first two stops of this trip. "I thought we actually played probably four decent periods out of the six coming out of the break," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "The two first periods were not good." Goaltender Braden Holtby (29-8-5, 2.01 GAA & .926 save percentage) was given the day off on Sunday but is expected to be back in net, tonight.
Philadelphia: The Flyers had a 10-game win streak in November and December but have since gone 9-14-4 with several key players falling into scoring slumps. The Flyers climbed over five teams to nail down the final wild-card playoff berth a year ago. Will we see that again? "Last year, nobody would have guessed we'd make the playoffs, and we did," Flyers right winger Jake Voracek told PhillyNews.com. "We are in a better spot this year than last year, points-wise and standings-wise. We just have to keep it going." I believe that's wishful thinking.
The pick: These teams last met on Jan. 15 in D.C., with the Caps winning in a 5-0 rout. Michal Neuvirth (10-7-1, 2.78 GAA & .890 save percentage) is expected to make his fifth straight start for the Flyers since taking over for Steve Mason, who was pulled in that Jan. 15 rout against the Capitals and has not been the same since. The Capitals have lost back-to-back close games but still own a league-best goal differential of plus-69, far ahead of the Flyers, who have been outscored by 25 this season. Washington is the league's best defensive team, allowing 2.09 GPG and leads the NHL in shutouts (10). The Caps are also the league's second-highest scoring team (3.34), while the Flyers rank just 25th in goals scored at 2.53. Washington is an 8* play.
