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NHL on NBCSN: Caps and Flyers meet again, this time in Philly

Philadelphia Flyers v Washington Capitals

at Verizon Center on March 2, 2014 in Washington, DC.

Rob Carr

NBCSN continues its coverage of the 2013-14 campaign tonight when the Philadelphia Flyers host the Washington Capitals at Wells Fargo Center at 8:00 p.m. ET. In addition to NBCSN, you can also watch the game online.

When last we saw the Flyers and Capitals battle it out, we saw the Caps blow a two-goal lead in the third period on the way to a Flyers 5-4 overtime win on a Vincent Lecavalier goal.

Things are going to be a little bit different tonight thanks to trade deadline day. As it is, there will be a couple of new faces likely in the lineup (Dustin Penner for Washington, Andrew MacDonald for Philadelphia) and at least one player from Sunday who won’t be there (Martin Erat now off to Phoenix).

Unless both teams continue to stay busy through 3 p.m. ET, we could see lighter than usual lineups.

As for the game, you know the main focus of everything tonight, the Capitals will be looking to make up for the mistakes they made on Sunday.

Blowing a lead in the third period of a game they seemed to be controlling likely isn’t sitting well with coach Adam Oates. He’ll head into the game without Dmitry Orlov after he was suspended for two games following his hit on Brayden Schenn on Sunday. With the Caps defense already in disarray, going without Orlov, who has played well against Philly this season, hurts.

On the upside, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom are still dynamite and adding Penner to the mix to (likely) play on a line with them should help that line out. Good thing, too, because they carry the offense for Washington.

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The Flyers on the other hand helped themselves out in an area they needed the most help by landing MacDonald. As a shot blocker extraordinaire, MacDonald will help a Flyers defense that’s had problems at times this year. At the very least, goalie Steve Mason will appreciate the extra help.

If Philly wants to keep the good times rolling against the Caps, seeing Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek do their thing on Sunday had to be encouraging. Giroux scored twice and Voracek menaced the Caps offensively. Throw in Lecavalier being clutch and the Flyers don’t look so bad out there.

Whether there are more changes coming today or not, the game is the thing tonight and the battle in the Metropolitan Division rages on with them.

Follow @JoeYerdonPHT