Flyers-Capitals: Game 3 Preview

Flyers Leaders	GP	G	A	P	Capitals Leaders	GP	G	A	P
Jakub Voracek	2	1	0	1	Nicklas Backstrom	2	1	3	4
Brayden Schenn	2	0	1	1	Marcus Johansson	2	0	4	4
Shayne Gostisbehere	2	0	1	1	John Carlson	2	2	1	3
Claude Giroux	2	0	0	0	Alex Ovechkin	2	1	0	1
Wayne Simmonds	2	0	0	0	Jason Chimera	2	1	0	1

 

Player to Watch
10 Brayden Schenn	19 Nicklas Backstrom
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, +1	Last 5 Games: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, +1

 

Brayden Schenn has been among the Flyers best forwards in the first two games at generating chances, and even though that hasn't equated to goals, at the very least there have been opportunities, more than some of the other forwards can say. The Flyers need a spark collectively as an offense to have any chance of getting back into the series.

 

Nicklas Backstrom has been the Capitals top point producer in the first two games with the Flyers doing a decent job of taking Ovechkin out of the play, hold for No. 8's power play goal in Game 2. Backstrom has proven to be just as dangerous in the first two games and just another part of the potent Capitals offense.

 

Goalie Matchup
35 Steve Mason	70 Braden Holtby
0-2-0, 3.10 GAA, .889 SV%	2-0-0, 0.50 GAA, .984 SV%

For Steve Mason, this is a bounce back game for so many reasons. He needs to shake off a fluke goal from Jason Chimera in Game 2, but needs to be solid in net to give the Flyers any chance as well. That takes collective team defense, but Mason can't have any lapses either.

The story of the series has been Braden Holtby. The Capitals goalie has a 19-save shutout and a 41-save effort in Washington's 4-1 win in Game 2, two performances indicative of his entire season. 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Sean Couturier, Colin McDonald, Evgeny Medvedev, R.J. Umberger, Jordan Weal, Michael Del Zotto

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
93 Jake Voracek	28 Claude Giroux	17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl	10 Brayden Schenn	89 Sam Gagner
21 Scott Laughton	52 Nick Cousins	24 Matt Read
76 Chris VandeVelde	78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	25 Ryan White
Defense
47 Andrew MacDonald	53 Shayne Gostisbehere
55 Nick Schultz	32 Mark Streit
23 Brandon Manning	3 Radko Gudas
Goalie
35 Steve Mason

The Flyers go with the same lineup as in Game 2.

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (T-14th), Capitals (1st)
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (16th), Capitals (1st) 
• Recent History vs. Capitals
  • Nov. 12, 2015 – The Flyers fell to the Capitals, 5-2, in Philadelphia.
  • Jan. 27, 2016 – The Flyers picked up a 4-3 win in overtime in Washington.
  • Feb. 7, 2016 – The Flyers suffered a 3-2 loss to the Capitals in Washington.
  • March 30, 2016 – The Flyers defeated the Capitals, 2-1, in a shootout.
  • April 14, 2016 (Game 1) - The Flyers fell to the Capitals, 2-0.
  • April 16, 2016 (Game 2) – The Flyers fell to the Capitals, 4-1.
• Flyers Playoff History vs. Capitals
  • 1984 Patrick Division Semi-final: Capitals win series, 3-0
  • 1988 Patrick Division Semi-final: Capitals win series, 4-3
  • 1989 Patrick Division Semi-final: Flyers win series, 4-2
  • 2008 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Flyers win series, 4-3
• Flyers leaders vs. Capitals
• Claude Giroux – 29 games, 15 goals, 16 assists, 31 points
• Jake Voracek – 25 games, 11 goals, 7 assists, 18 points
• Shayne Gostisbehere – 3 games, 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points
• Steve Mason – 16 games, 8-5-2, 2.71 GAA, .908 Sv%

Where to Watch
TV: CSN, NBCSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.