Flyers' Claude Giroux on playoff push: 'We're fighting for our lives'
The Flyers' task is monumental. Needing points to stay afloat in the crowded scramble for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot, they play Saturday night against their old playoff pals in Washington, where the Capitals have won 14 straight.
The Flyers' task is monumental.
Needing points to stay afloat in the crowded scramble for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot, they play Saturday night against their old playoff pals in Washington, where the Capitals have won 14 straight.
The Caps (43-13-7), who scored a 5-0 home romp against the Flyers on Jan. 15, have the NHL's best record and own staggering plus-74-goal differential.
Can you say mismatch?
"It doesn't change our mindset or our goal," captain Claude Giroux said, when asked about the Capitals' long home winning streak after practice Friday in Voorhees. "Our goal is to go in there and get two points. They're one of the best teams in the league. It's not a secret, but at the same time, we're fighting for our lives here, and a game like this couldn't come at a better time."
The Flyers have won two straight for the first time since late January, and, entering Friday, they were three points out of a playoff spot with 19 games left.
"We just have to go in there, try to limit our mistakes and try to play the same brand of hockey we've played the last few games," right winger Wayne Simmonds said.
Giroux and his linemates have struggled on the road, where home teams have the last matchup. He is "even" in plus-minus stats at the Wells Fargo Center and minus-18 on the road.
The Flyers (30-26-7), who are 1-2 against the Caps this season, hope the recent addition of second-line center Valtteri Filppula balances their lines and makes it more difficult for opponents to send out their best defensive units against Giroux and Co.
"Teams will have to respect that he's in the lineup," Giroux said.
In his Flyers debut Thursday, Filppula tied the game with a late goal in a 2-1 shootout win over Florida.
"When we played against him you [could] see he's a two-way player who makes a lot of good plays. It's only been one game, but you kind of see what he brings," Giroux said. "He's strong on faceoffs, has a good stick and is always in good position."
Filppula centered Brayden Schenn and Jake Voracek.
"To see three guys who never played together before and get that chemistry, it's pretty impressive," Giroux said.
Defenseman Brandon Manning, who missed the last two games because of a league-mandated suspension for a late hit against Pittsburgh, could return to the lineup Saturday.
"It's just about regrouping and finding my legs again," Manning said. "Hopefully, that's [Saturday]."
Tom Wilson is usually Washington's biggest instigator against the Flyers. Manning said he won't back down if he's in the lineup.
"I don't think the suspension is going to change my game," Manning said. "I've worked hard, and I guess you can say I started to develop a reputation of being a hard-nosed, physical guy. I'm going to stick to that. That's what keeps me in the lineup, and that's what got me here."
If Wilson stirs it up, "hopefully we can benefit from that and draw some penalties," Manning said.
Breakaways
Winger Travis Konecny, sidelined the last nine games with a leg injury, said he was 100 percent healthy. Coach Dave Hakstol wouldn't say if Konecny would play Saturday, but he practiced on the fourth line Friday and was on the second power-play unit. If he does return Saturday, he would have limited minutes, Hakstol said. . . . Filppula could see time on the power play Saturday. . . . Steve Mason, who has stopped 72 of 73 shots over the last two games, will make his third straight start. . . . Manning said the trade deadline passing is "definitely a relief to a lot guys, whether they want to admit it or not. We have our group now, and we'll push forward.". . . Caps goalie Braden Holtby has a league-high eight shutouts.
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