Over the last 28 days, the Philadelphia Flyers have played just one home game. In that span, they've made lengthy trips to Vancouver, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Detroit, Buffalo, Boston and Atlanta, and they also sat through an eight day lay off in which no hockey was played. They put up an impressive 7-3 mark over that stretch to boost themselves to the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Capitals Vs. Flyers: Eastern Conference Favorites Do Battle In Philadelphia
Tonight, when they take the Wells Fargo Center ice against the Washington Capitals, it begins a stretch in which they'll play just two road games in 28 days. Considering teams usually have more success at home than on the road, the Flyers have clearly set themselves up to take a commanding lead in the conference here.
The Capitals are a team that knows all about the disparity between home play and road play. The Caps have notoriously been known as a great home team, perhaps in part due to the horrible ice at Verizon Center and their familiarity with it. This year, that’s no different. They’re 16-5-5 at home, but on the road, they’re a mediocre 9-9-2.
That’s a losing record. For the Washington Capitals. Yes, those same Alex Ovechkin-bearing Washington Capitals.
Of course, this doesn't make the game tonight a lock for Philadelphia. The Capitals will avoid seeing defenseman Chris Pronger, who is still out of the Flyers lineup after foot surgery. His return was possible tonight but it's more likely that he returns late in the week.
To win, though, the Caps know that they'll have to score goals. Novel concept, ain't it? Ovechkin has been basically invisible on the goal-scoring front for most of the year, and with Alex Semin out of the lineup and Nicklas Backstrom just as troubled as No. 8, trouble is abound in D.C.
They'll try to break out of it tonight in South Philly. We'll be treated to a goalie duel between two young Europeans, Michal Neuvirth from the Caps and Sergei Bobrovsky for the Flyers. I'll be providing live updates of the game from the Wells Fargo Center, so be sure stick around for that.
For more on the game, check in with Broad Street Hockey and Japers’ Rink.
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