By ,
Published May 02, 2016
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Washington Capitals take aim at their longest winning streak of the season Sunday when they invite the rival Philadelphia Flyers to Verizon Center.
The Capitals have won three straight with recent victories over Los Angeles, Ottawa and Anaheim. It marks Washington's sixth three-game winning streak of the season, but the Caps haven't posted four straight victories since April 5-11 of last season.
The Flyers, meanwhile, are hoping to get back in the win column today after having a season-high four-game winning halted in Thursday's shootout loss against the visiting New York Islanders.
Philadelphia is 11 points behind Boston for the last playoff spot in the East and the Flyers trail Washington by 14 points in the Metropolitan Division standings.
The Capitals, meanwhile, are holding onto the third and final automatic postseason bid from the Metro and are two points ahead of the New York Rangers for that spot. The Rangers are in action Sunday against Dallas.
Washington had lost four straight in the series against the Flyers before notching a 1-0 home victory on Jan. 14. Braden Holtby stopped 21 shots for the shutout win and Jason Chimera scored the lone goal just 3:13 into the first period.
The Caps have claimed three of the past four home tests in this series. They own a 15-6-5 record in D.C. this season.
Washington picked up its third straight win on Friday with a 3-2 shootout decision over the Anaheim Ducks. Nicklas Backstrom netted the deciding goal in the shootout to help Washington sneak past Anaheim.
Jason Chimera and John Carlson scored in regulation while Evgeny Kuznetsov added two assists for the Capitals. Kuznetsov has picked up points in six of his last seven games (2G, 4A).
Philipp Grubauer picked up his first NHL victory this season with 23 saves and also turned away two of three chances in the game's final segment.
"He did very well against a good team," Washington head coach Barry Trotz said of Grubauer. "Both teams actually played really well, and were not giving up too much on both sides."
Holtby is expected to make his 45th start of the season this afternoon. He is 4-2-4 with a 3.01 goals against average in 11 career outings against the Flyers.
Caps defenseman Mike Green was a late scratch Thursday and is questionable for Sunday with a lower-body injury.
Washington will begin a four-game road trip on Wednesday when it plays its next game in San Jose.
Philadelphia is kicking off a four-game road trip today and also will make stops in Montreal, Columbus and Buffalo before returning to the City of Brotherly Love to face Columbus on Feb. 17. The Flyers are just 7-15-4 on the road this season and have dropped seven of their past eight as the guest
The Flyers held a 2-0 lead in Thursday's game against the Isles, but New York rallied for the 3-2 win. Cal Clutterbuck tied the game late in the second period for the Islanders and then scored the deciding goal in the seventh round of the shootout.
Nick Schultz and Chris VandeVelde scored for the Flyers, while Steve Mason made 28 saves in a losing effort.
"Yeah definitely. We gave away that point tonight for sure," said Schultz.
Mason will likely start again today. He is 7-3-2 with a 2.77 GAA in his career against Washington.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/streaking-caps-take-on-flyers