The Washington Capitals had far and away the best record in the National Hockey League in the 2015-2016 season, running away with the Presidents' Trophy thanks to their 120-point campaign. The Caps open their Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday night, hosting the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of their first-round series at Verizon Center in Washington D.C.
Flyers vs. Capitals, 2016 NHL playoffs: Time, TV schedule and live stream for Game 1
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The Capitals cruised into the playoffs at just 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, though still finished 11 points better than the second-best team in the NHL (Dallas), and 16 points better than second-best in the Eastern Conference (Pittsburgh).
With that best record in the NHL also came the best home record at 29-8-4, though the Capitals were just 1-2-2 in their final five home games of the regular season.
Even with the coasting into the playoffs, Washington remains the favorite not just in this series, but in the Eastern Conference.
“There is no chance for Philadelphia to beat Washington unless they can get more than just from one line,” Mike Milbury of NBC Sports said on a conference call this week. “That means Jake Voracek has to wake up. I don’t know what’s happened to him since he was injured.”
Voracek missed three weeks with a left foot injury, and since returning only had one goal and six assists in the final 13 games of the season.
Philadelphia and Washington split their four regular season games, including wins for each in both cities, though both Flyers wins came in extra time, with one overtime and one shootout victory.
Alex Ovechkin, who had his third straight 50-goal season and led the league with exactly 50 goals, scored two goals with no assists in four games against the Flyers in 2015-16.
Flyers vs. Capitals Game 1 coverage
7 p.m. ET | Game 1, Eastern Conference Round 1
Verizon Center | Washington D.C.
Local: Comcast Philly, Comcast DC | National: NBCSN, CBC
Live stream at NBC Sports Live Extra
More coverage: Broad Street Hockey | Japers’ Rink
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