Flyers-Capitals: Game 6 Preview

Flyers host Capitals looking to move to cusp of history again

Six days ago, none of this was thought possible. The Flyers had just been hammered by the Capitals in Game 3 to fall behind 3-0 in the series. The idea of hosting two more playoff games was a pipe dream.

But here we are in an anything-can-happen Game 6. The Flyers brought the series home behind Michal Neuvirth's 44-save shutout in Game 5 on Friday. On Sunday afternoon, they have a chance to be back on the cusp of history.

The winner of this series will face the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Capitals enter another game, their third straight, with a chance to punch their ticket to the second round.

Faceoff in Game 6 between the Flyers and Capitals is set for 12 p.m.

Flyers Leaders GP G A P Capitals Leaders GP G A P
Shayne Gostisbehere 5 1 1 2 Nicklas Backstrom 5 1 5 6
Brayden Schenn 5 0 2 2 John Carlson 5 3 3 6
Wayne Simmonds 5 0 2 2 Marcus Johansson 5 1 4 5
Sam Gagner 5 0 2 2 Alex Ovechkin 5 3 1 4
Jakub Voracek 5 1 0 1 T.J. Oshie 5 1 3 4
 
Player to Watch
17 Wayne Simmonds 8 Alex Ovechkin
Series Totals: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, +1 Series Totals: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, +1
 
The last time there was a Game 6 in Philadelphia, Wayne Simmonds scored a hat trick. While those results may not be the target, Simmonds came out for that game on another level. With so much of the Flyers offensive success being based on putting pressure and traffic in front of Braden Holtby, Simmonds is certainly one for the job.
 
There are two reasons to pick Alex Ovechkin here: he's as dangerous a goal scorer as there is and in Game 5, the frustration was starting to set in. This Game 6 will be about Ovechkin's own desire to avenge the demons of failures past as much as it is for the Capitals. If there is anybody who can change the game with one quick move or booming shot, it's No. 8.
 
Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth 70 Braden Holtby
2-0-0, 0.50 GAA, .987 SV% 3-2-0, 1.01 GAA, .961 SV%

Game 5 was the Michal Neuvirth show. 44 saves in a shutout forced a Game 6, and that leaves Neuvirth as the man between the pipes as the Flyers look to take the series back to Washington for Game 7. In the two games he has started in the series, Neuvirth has stopped 75 of 76 shots.

Make no mistake about it, Braden Holtby has still been a key figure in the series for the Capitals, allowing a grand total of five goals in the entire series entering Game 6. That said, he was limited in his last start, facing just 10 shots and stopping nine.  

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Sean CouturierScott LaughtonEvgeny Medvedev, R.J. Umberger, Jordan WealMichael 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
24 Matt Read 52 Nick Cousins 36 Colin McDonald
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    
30 Michal Neuvirth    

The Flyers go with the same lineup as in Game 5.

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (14th, 10th at home), Capitals (2nd, 3rd on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (15th, 14th at home), Capitals (3rd, 7th on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Capitals
  • 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 – Regular Season Totals

Where to Watch
TV: NBC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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

Go to top button