Playing the front end of a home-and-home set, John Tortorella's Philadelphia Flyers (1-3-1) play host on Tuesday to Spencer Carbery's Washington Capitals (3-1-0). Game time at Wells Fargo Center is 6:00 p.m. EDT.
The game will be televised on ESPN. The radio broadcast is on 97.5 The Fanatic with an online simulcast on Flyers Radio 24/7.
This is the first of three meetings this season between the Flyers and Capitals. The teams will rematch on Wednesday at Capital One Arena in DC. The season series will resume on February 6 in Philadelphia before concluding in Washington on March 20.
Here are five things to watch in Tuesday's game.
1. Ersson has kept games close
The Flyers enter this game coming off a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in the home opener on Saturday.
However, the play of goaltender Sam Ersson was a positive takeaway for Philadelphia. He faced 32 shots, stopping 29.
Throughout the first period, the ice was largely tilted territorially in Vancouver's favor. Ersson kept his team in the game by stopping 14 of 15 shots. He had little to no chance of stopping a late period goal by Nils Hoglander after a coverage breakdown by the Flyers.
Vancouver added two closely spaced goals in the second period to build a three-goal lead -- one off another coverage snafu, the other a bang-bang play from an attack zone faceoff -- and then shut the door in the final 20 minutes.
Against the Capitals, the Flyers need a similarly solid game from Ersson.
2. Seeler making season debut
Veteran defenseman Nick Seeler missed the first five games of the season after taking a puck off his knee in the October 1 exhibition game in Boston. Seeler is expected to make his season debut and suit up on Tuesday.
The Flyers missed Seeler’s shot blocking prowess, physicality and competitiveness to start the season. The team also could have used the stability he helps provide to his defensive pairing and his leadership by example.
Heading into the season, it was anticipated that Seeler would be paired with Jamie Drysdale as his regular defensive partner. Look for that duo to play together against the Caps after being paired in Monday's practice.
3. Sharper play needed at five-on-five
Sometimes, a team can play the right way but not get rewarded. Other times, a club can get away with winning a game (and/or piling up goals) in a match where they didn't actually play all that well.
In the early going of the 2024-25 season, neither the process nor the results have been satisfactory from the Flyers' play at 5-on-5. The defensive zone structure has been spotty. There has been enough sustained puck possession off the forecheck. The transition game -- a primary strength last season -- hasn't been up to par.
The bottom line: Through five games, the Flyers have yielded 16 goals in 5-on-5 situations, while scoring just six. The Capitals have scored 13 goals while allowing 10.
4. Special teams have been a bright spot
The Flyers saw their streak of scoring at least one power play goal per game end on Saturday. Overall, though, the power play has been carrying much of the offensive output the Flyers generated to date (5-for-19, 26.3 percent).
Similarly, Philly's penalty kill has done a nice job. Through five games, the Flyers have yielded just one 5-on-4 power play goal, one 5-on-3 and one at 4-on-3 manpower. Overall, the Flyers are 18-for-21 (85.7%) with one shorthanded goal to their credit (Travis Konecny).
The Caps' PK has started the season at 12-for-14. The power play, however, is off to a slow start (2-for-13).
5. Behind Enemy Lines: Washington Capitals
After opening the campaign with a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, the Capitals have won each of their last three games: 4-2 at home over the Vegas Golden Knights, 3-2 at home against the Dallas Stars and 6-5 in overtime against the Devils on the road.
Dylan Strome is off to a scorching hot start to the season with three goals and seven points through four games. Rugged Tom Wilson has already scored five goals. Longtime offensive leaders John Carlson (1g, 4a) and Alex Ovechkin (1g, 3a) have five and four points respectively.
Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson have split the first four games in goal with each netminder receiving two starts. As evidenced by the final scores of most of the games so far, goalie play is something the Caps will need to improve in order to continue their winning ways.
