Caps @ Flyers 11-23-2007 Preview

Washington Capitals ( 6-15; 13 points) @ Philadelphia Flyers (12-8; 25 points):
Caps Game #22, Road Game # 13, NHL Game #316

Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA. 1:07 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Philadelphia TV: Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. Radio: WWIP 610-AM. NHL Center Ice: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic feed.

The Interim Bruce Boudreau era begins today as the Caps take their five game losing streak to Philadelphia where they've won just twice in their last 16 trips. Both of those wins came last year when the Flyers were by far the worst team in the NHL and setting their lowest point total in franchise history. Unfortunately, that is not the case this year as the Flyers are currently in the hunt for the lead in their division and have dragged out yet another "Broad Street Bullies" revival for good measure. The Flyers are coming off a 6-3 win in Carolina on Wednesday night which snapped a two game losing skid.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times: Change comes, Hanlon dismissed, Boudreau takes over. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia Inquirer.

What Do I Expect Today?:

Today we get to see the other side of an early season coaching change. Last year the Flyers dumped Ken Hitchcock for John Stevens and things didn't turn around for the Flyers until the new season started. New Head Coaches for the Caps have a record of 6-7 in their debuts and the Caps were 3-6 in matinee games last season. With the sudden and abrupt change in head coaches, the Caps could easily be described as a wounded animal right now. There is an old saying that says a wounded animal is the most dangerous kind. However are the Caps fatally wounded right now? The players had been talking for a couple of weeks that it wasn't the coach but their coach just got fired so now more than ever is the time to see if these guys really felt that way. This is a tough game for me to predict because I don't think this game will be close; the Caps will either blow the Flyers out of the Wachovia Center today playing all kinds of inspired hockey or will get themselves shellacked again because they're feeling sorry for themselves.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 6
Flyers 2
Winner by Ovechkin

(11-10 on the season)