Game Preview: Flyers vs. Capitals

PHI: 18-7-3 (1st in Atlantic); WSH: 15-12-1 (2nd in Southeast)

Where: Verizon Center

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m. on CSN

Probable Goalies – Ilya Bryzgalov (13-5-2, 2.83 GAA) vs. Tomas Vokoun (12-7-0, 2.70 GAA)

Last time met: October 20, 2011– In the first meeting this season, the Capitals held a slim 2-1 lead heading into the third period. But then they exploded for three goals in the third frame in a 5-2 victory over the Flyers. Roman Hamrlik, Alex Ovechkin, and Joel Ward all scored for the Capitals. Ilya Bryzgalov gave up all five goals on 28 shots while Tomas Vokoun recorded a 40-save effort.

Opposing player to watch – LW Alex Ovechkin: Despite being a little off last year and some of this season, Ovechkin still remains one of the best players in the league. He is one of the fastest skaters out there. If he gets the puck in open ice, he can make anybody look average. The Flyers defense will have to know where he is at all times. He has a goal and an assist in his last two games and looks to be improving his game. He has nine goals and 12 assists so far this season. In 23 career games against the Flyers, Ovie has 22 goals and 15 assists. He’s in the same league as Sidney Crosby and the Sedin twins.

What To Look For – This marks the first game without NHL points-leader Claude Giroux. It was announced today that Giroux is out indefinitely due to a concussion. He suffered the injury on Saturday against Tampa Bay when he took a knee to the head from teammate Wayne Simmonds.

Hartnell stays hot, leads Flyers to interstate win

Scott Hartnell has been made famous for falling down. But he’s also been famous for something else recently: scoring goals.

Hartnell scored what proved to be the game-winning goal Thursday night in a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The win also gave the Flyers the top spot in the Eastern Conference and in the Atlantic Division.

It was Hartnell’s fourth consecutive game where he found the back of the net.

He even referenced #HartnellDown in his post-game interview with Steve Coates.

Hartnell has tallied 11 points in his last 10 games. He has simply been playing remarkable hockey.

The Flyers jumped out to a 3-0 lead last night.

Danny Briere scored the first goal on a shot that deflected off two Penguin defenders and found its way into the net.

In the second period, Wayne Simmonds scored a beautiful power-play goal that was set up by a nice pass from Jakub Voracek.

Voracek has been playing well as he registered his second assist in as many games.

As a good start as the Flyers, things did tighten up.

The Penguins did get on the board in the second period on a power-play goal by James Neal.

Then Evgeni Malkin made it a one-goal game 8:21 into the third period.

After that, the Flyers didn’t seem to play with the same energy. They looked very tired and were being outmuscled by a faster Penguins team.

Ilya Bryzgalov was sensational in the third period. He was peppered with 14 shots and stopped every one of them to propel the Flyers to victory.

This is the Bryzgalov that the Flyers expected when they signed him to that huge contract back in July. He is a big-game goalie and didn’t crack under the immense pressure.

Malkin was incredibly active in the final frame and looked poised to tie the game. But that never happened.

It was what everyone expected in the first Battle of Pennsylvania of the season. Both goalies played well and it was very physical.