Gameday Preview (Preseason Edition - Take 3)

Who: Your Nation’s Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Where: Wachovia Center
3601 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
When: Tuesday, September 26, 7:00 PM

Media Notes:
Not game-related (and a little old) but check out this Ovechkin Profile from the Sporting News
WashingtonCaps.com
WashingtonPost.com
WashingtonTimes.com
PhiladelphiaFlyers.com (Watch out for that orange - it'll burn your retinas right off...)
Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Daily News

Broadcast Information: Radio feeds on both sites as well as, drum roll please............streaming video, baby!

2005-2006 Season Series: Washington 1-3-0-0, Philadelphia 3-0-0-1

Last Game: 2/10 at Philadelphia, Caps lost 5-4
- This game featured two injury-depleted lineups, combining for a total of 10 regulars out with various bumps and bruises
- In the second period, the Caps allowed 3 power play goals in a span of just under 8 minutes (so nothing new there) and fell behind 5-2, only to claw back within one on 2 power play goals of their own
- Then-Flyer Donald Brashear got into a fight with Doug Doull early in the first period; he would later score an unassisted goal, only his second of the year, against backup Brent Johnson.
- Classic quote from Big Donnie about the goal: "It's a move I practice a lot," Brashear said of the fake. "I see good players do it. I just shot it."

Great Moments in Caps History:
In the 1988 Patrick Division Semifinals against the Flyers, the Capitals came from being down 3-1 in the series to force game 7 on home ice. The Caps would then force overtime, tying the score at 4-4 after trailing 3-0. In the extra frame, Dale Hunter got the puck on a breakaway and shot it five-hole past Ron Hextall to win the game and the series. The Caps would go on to lose the division finals in 7 games to the New Jersey Devils, but the defeat of the hated Flyers would become legend among Caps fans and remains one of the favorite video clips shown at home games almost 20 years later.

Things to watch for:
- Hanlon will continue to tinker with the lines up until opening night, so we'll consider this the ongoing "What to Watch" over the next week
- Bubble boys - Klepis, Fleischmann, Gordon, Beech, Green...Hanlon has made it clear that the last four cuts will likely be made following tonight's game, so I hope to see a lot of desperation and a good game from all of the above to make the decision that much harder
- The return of Ovie (?) and Heward tonight hopefully means more offensive production and better defense than the last few games...
- Every preseason game so far has essentially been decided by special teams, which is the main reason why the Caps are 1-1-1 instead of 3-0. I can feel it, though - we're going to be 100% on the penalty kill tonight! (Denial - not just a river in Egypt...)

Possible Lineups:
Okay, until they start publishing media notes for preseason games, you're going to have to mix and match your own lines for tonight's game.

Here's who is left:

Capitals
Center - Zubrus, Sutherby, Laich, Beech, Klepis, Fata, Gordon...and the pivot rollercoaster continues...
Wingers - Ovechkin, Semin, Pettinger, Brashear, Fleischmann, Clark, Zednik, Bradley
Defense - Pothier, Morrisonn, Eminger, Clymer, Heward, Green, Muir, Erskine
Goalies - Kolzig, Johnson

Flyers
No earthly idea. Unfortunately I don't have time to search for their training camp roster and research who has been cut so far. My prediction...yes, there will be some Flyers on the ice tonight.
That's why you read my gameday previews - it's the up to date information and attention to detail, right? :)