Pre-Game: Capitals vs Flyers

With all this rivalry talk going on after the Caps destroyed defeated the Pens on national television, let's not forget our rivals up I-95, the Philadelphia Flyers. Don't get me wrong, the Pens and Caps are fierce rivals, but Philly will be a threat come April. (Besides, we all know who (make that 'what') the Penguins' will be playing in spring).

For the Caps, their two meetings with the Flyers have been a tale of two cities. After a stellar first period by Antero Niittymaki, the Caps lost their will the rest of the game and left with a 7-1 embarrassing loss (which is why I voted "focus" on DMG's post regarding roadblocks for the Caps).

But I quickly rethought that answer after checking the schedule and seeing that the Caps won seven straight after that ugly loss...including a 2-1 redemption victory at home against the Flyers.

So what's been going on over the past two years (stats since the start of last season, including the playoffs) between the clubs when they meet?

• Washington is 6-5-2 against Philadelphia.
• In one goal games, the Caps are 5-1-2.
• The Flyers are 4-2-1 at the Verizon Center.
  
• Both teams are 4-1 when scoring at least four goals.
  
• The Caps are 4-0-2 when Nicklas Backstrom scores.
• When Sergei Fedorov plays less than 21 minutes, the Caps are 3-0. When he's on the ice for more than 21 minutes, the Caps are 0-2-2.
• Shots have been pretty even, with the Flyers holding a 425 to 420 lead.
• Philadelphia also leads in goals 44 to 35, which would put them ahead in shooting percentage: 10.4% to 8.3%.
• When Jeff Carter scores, Philly is 3-0-1.
• Caps are 3-0-1 when Eric Fehr has between 8 and 13 minutes.

A win and a Boston loss puts us five points back with Saturday's matinee match up just five days away.