Flyers-Capitals 5 things: Rivalry starts challenging stretch

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Flyers (19-11-4) vs. Capitals (19-8-3)
8 p.m. on NBCSN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports App
 
The Flyers meet the Washington Capitals at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night for the first of four games between the division counterparts.
 
Let’s get you ready for the matchup with five things to know.
 
1. Ride the Metro
The Flyers are about to be tested.
 
Half of their next 18 games come against the Metropolitan Division, which has turned into the NHL’s best, sporting five of the league’s top 10 teams with the Penguins (47 points), Rangers (47), Blue Jackets (46), Flyers (42) and Capitals (41).
 
Eight of the Flyers’ next 12 games are on the road. Among those 12, eight games are against teams currently holding a playoff spot, with another vs. the Lightning.
 
And to close the regular season, the Flyers play 12 divisional games over their final 15.
 
“I think the competitive nature of our franchise, I like it,” general manager Ron Hextall said last Sunday. “The travel, I like. And the other thing, our division, it’s no secret, our division is very strong and it does give us a good measuring stick on where we’re at. But it also gives us the opportunity to put ourselves in a good position. They’re four-point games.”
 
2. We meet again
This will be the first time the Flyers face the Capitals since April, when top-seeded Washington knocked the eighth-seeded orange and black out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round (six games).
 
Last regular season, the Capitals finished a league-best 56-18-8 with 120 points — the next closest was the Stars at 109. Washington, however, fell short of much greater goals yet again, losing in the second round to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Penguins.
 
Expectations are again high.
 
The Capitals come back with a nearly identical group to last season’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning team. Talented offensively, Washington isn’t scoring goals at its usual clip, ranking near the middle of the league (2.67 per game), but the Capitals’ penalty kill and goaltending are excellent, just like last season. In April’s six-game playoff series, Washington held the Flyers to 1 for 24 on the power play, while goalie Braden Holtby made 149 saves on 154 shots overall.
 
“It’s the same group,” Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said Tuesday. “Their defense is a little more active offensively, but no question, defensively, they’ve been good. They don’t give up a whole lot and they’re a tough team to play against. Time and space are a real premium.”
 
3. Lookin’ for the rook
It’s only a matter of time before rookie Travis Konecny halts his goal drought, which is currently at 19 games. The exciting 19-year-old forward netted four goals and six assists for 10 points in his first 15 games, but has no goals and six assists in 19 contests since.
 
Konecny is staying confident.
 
“I need to shoot the puck more but my pass-first mentality is definitely in my head all the time,” he said after Wednesday’s morning skate. “I try to be an offensive player. It doesn’t have to be narrowed down to playmaker or shooter. It can be both.
 
“If I wasn’t getting opportunities, then maybe I would question myself. Maybe I can bear down a little more. Make sure I give myself the best opportunities to score.”
 
4. Keep an eye on …
Flyers: Brayden Schenn was smack dab in the middle of last year’s physical postseason matchup. Blood boiled between the Flyers’ forward and the Capitals, with a fight and plenty of hits, one in which resulted in Schenn’s three-game suspension to start the 2016-17 season. He’ll be amped to see Washington again.
 
Capitals: Nicklas Backstrom does damage against the Flyers. The center has 44 career points (14 goals, 30 assists) in 34 games against the orange and black. He also had a series-high seven points in the 2015-16 playoff clash.
 
5. This and that
• Flyers goalie Steve Mason is 8-5-2 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 16 career games against Washington.
 
• Holtby is 6-4-6 with a 2.76 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 17 lifetime matchups with the Flyers.
 
• The Capitals have won six of their last seven games.
 
• The Flyers, on a two-game losing skid, have not lost three straight games since Nov. 5-11.

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