Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 Preview

Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 Preview, Prediction, Team Comparison, X-Factors

Stanley Cup Playoffs continue on Thursday night at 7:00PM (EST) with the Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers. The Presidents’ Trophy winning Capitals will face-off against the late surging Flyers in what promises to be a thrilling match-up.

Alex Ovechkin and company have their sights set high on a Stanley Cup Championship after their best season with this current leadership group. They’ll face a tough Wild-Card opponent that had a ton of success down the stretch. Philly also has a little more motivation to win after losing their long-time owner Ed Snider on Monday.

Injury Report (IR – Injured Reserve, DTD – Day-to-Day)

Jay Beagle WSH (undisclosed) – He left Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury, but is expected to be ready for the opener.

Michael Del Zotto (IR) – He suffered ligament damage in his wrist back in late February. The timeline for his return at that time was three to four months.

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Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers: Team Comparison

Goaltending:

Braden Holtby/Philipp Grubauer vs. Steve Mason/Michal Neuvirth

One year after Carey Price dominated the NHL, taking home a ton of hardware, Capitals goalie Braden Holtby is now in a similar position.

He is the assumed Vezina Trophy winner (with legitimate arguments for other nominees) and has an opportunity to capture the Hart Trophy. Washington will need their All-Star goaltender to be at his best in round one, and throughout the playoffs if they want to make a deep run.

There are arguments to be made for both Flyers goaltenders to start. Steve Mason was one of the hottest starters down the stretch, while Neuvirth served as one of the league’s best backup’s in 2015-16. Don’t be surprised if Dave Hakstol gives both netminders a look in round one to find the hot hand.

Advantage: Washington Capitals

It’s quite simple, Braden Holtby is challenging Carey Price for honors of being the top netminder on the planet. There’s simply no comparison regardless of how well either goaltender in Philly is playing.

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Defense:

The Capitals defense had a great season, especially considering they were without Brooks Orpik for a large chunk of it. Orpik, an old warrior (especially in the playoffs) will be heavily depended upon to shut down the opposition’s top-six. John Carlson and Matt Niskanen will need to do what they did during the regular season – produce from the back-end.

Led by rookie sensation Shayne “The Ghost” Gostisbehere, the Flyers will need their young blueliner to play an effective shutdown role against Washington’s dangerous top-six. His ability to create offense forcing the Caps stars to play defense in their own zone may be a key factor to knocking off the Eastern Conference powerhouse. Mark Streit and Radko Gudas will also need step up to shut-down the opposition.

Advantage: Washington Capitals

Realistically, the Caps have around eight defenders capable of playing at the NHL level. The addition of Mike Weber near the deadline was simply adding depth in hopes of a deep playoff run. The Capitals should have the advantage in the match-up game with a stronger defensive group.

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Offense:

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Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom lead the best team that either has been part of over their tenure in Washington. The duo has long been one of the NHL’s elite, with new arrival T.J. Oshie fitting in nicely alongside the pair.

Sophomore star Evgeny Kuznetsov fit in nicely alongside Ovie and Oshie to open the season (when Backstrom was on the IR), which gives coach Barry Trotz versatility to mix up his lines if need be.

The supporting cast in Washington may prove to be difference makers. Mr.Game Seven, Justin Williams owns an impressive postseason resume. Newcomer Mike Richards didn’t have a big impact down the stretch, but brings with him plenty of playoff experience.

Players such as Marcus Johansson and Andre Burakovsky can make a difference on the scoresheet, while guys like Tom Wilson have a more physical impact.

If the Flyers hope to defeat the Capitals, they’ll need their stars at their very best. Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek will need to produce at a much higher rate than their regular season totals. Wayne Simmonds was one of the hottest players over the final month, and will need to continue to find the scoresheet. The Flyers boast a highly underrated group of forwards with secondary pieces in their bottom six who can not only score, but wear down their opponents.

Advantage: Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie, Marcus Johansson, Andre Burakovsky, Justin Williams, Mike Richards – shall we go on? It’s no disrespect to the Flyers, but this is a difficult group to contend with talent wise.

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Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers: X-Factors

Brooks Orpik/Karl Alzner WSH – Likely to be paired with Washington’s two offensive blueliners, these are the guys who need to step up defensively to shutdown Philly’s top-six.

Braden Holtby WSH – It starts and ends with Holtby. If he brings a similar sub-par performance such as the one that saw him struggle at parts over the second half, Washington could be in trouble. At his best, the Capitals are borderline unstoppable.

Mark Streit PHI – Likely handling responsibility of the Alex Ovechkin match-up, this veteran defender will need to be Philadelphia’s best player in the opening round shutting down the Caps top line.

Shayne Gostisbehere PHI – He needs to do what he does best, create offense and force the opposition to spend time in their own end. The Capitals stars are most dangerous in the offensive zone on the attack; if you can limit their chances, you can ultimately give yourself an opportunity to win.

Next: Blues vs. Blackhawks Round 1 Preview

Prediction:

Washington Wins Series 4-2