The Philadelphia Flyers visit the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at Capital One Arena in a Metropolitan Division matchup between two teams trying to find consistency a month into the season. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the game airing on TNT, truTV and NBC Sports Phil +.
Washington enters at 6-4-0 and sits fourth in the division with 12 points, while Philadelphia is 3-7-3 and last in the Metro with nine points. The series opener also doubles as the first meeting between the two clubs this season.
Flyers Vs Capitals Game Information
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 28
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
- TV/Streaming: TNT, truTV, NBC Sports Phil +
- Series: First meeting of the 2026-27 season
Capitals Outlook
Washington has won three of its last five games, including a 4-3 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 24. The Capitals have scored 34 goals on 275 shots for a 12.4% shooting rate, the more efficient mark in this matchup, and Alex Tuch leads the roster with seven goals and nine points. Dylan Strome paces the team in assists with six.
The bigger story in Washington is the crease. Logan Thompson is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and carries a return date of Oct. 28 in the official data, but he is listed as the Capitals’ probable starting goalie for this game, which signals his status is trending toward activation. The Capitals are also missing defensemen Vincent Desharnais (abdomen surgery, expected back Dec. 5) and Rasmus Sandin (right knee surgery, expected back Dec. 26), along with center Patrick Thomas (upper body, expected back Nov. 14). Washington’s defensive totals show 32 goals allowed on 284 shots against, a .897 save percentage that ranks below Philadelphia’s mark.
Flyers Outlook
Philadelphia split its last five games, going 3-2 with wins over Ottawa, Colorado and Buffalo before a 5-4 loss to Anaheim on Oct. 24. The Flyers have been outscored 41-24 on the season but own a respectable .902 team save percentage and a 3.15 goals-against average, both marginally better than Washington’s numbers. Matvei Michkov leads Philadelphia with eight goals and ten points, while Trevor Zegras tops the team with seven assists.
The Flyers’ injury list is heavy on wingers. Owen Tippett (upper body) and Travis Konecny (lower body) are both on injured reserve with expected returns of Nov. 1 and Nov. 3, and Nikita Grebenkin (back) is not projected back until Feb. 13, 2027. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (hand) is targeting a Nov. 11 return.
Joseph Woll is projected as Philadelphia’s probable starting goalie. With Philadelphia sitting last in the Metropolitan Division at 3-7-3, every game carries weight for a team trying to climb out of the division basement.
Key Matchup
Washington’s shooting efficiency against Philadelphia’s shot volume is the matchup to watch. The Capitals have converted at a 12.4% clip compared to the Flyers’ 8.1%, even though Philadelphia has out-shot opponents by a wider margin this season with 295 total shots to Washington’s 275. If the Flyers can turn that volume into more quality looks, they can pressure a Capitals goaltending situation that is still sorting itself out with Thompson coming off injured reserve. If Washington’s finishing rate holds, Philadelphia’s defense, which has already allowed 41 goals in 13 games, will be tested again.
What To Watch
Washington holds the fourth spot in the Metropolitan Division with 12 points, one point back of New Jersey and two points back of a Rangers team with 15. A win would keep the Capitals within range of the division’s upper tier. Philadelphia, meanwhile, sits last in the Metro and has lost seven of its first 13 games, making every point valuable as the Flyers try to close the gap on the teams ahead of them. Thompson’s status as the Capitals’ probable starter after coming off injured reserve is worth tracking once lineups are finalized before puck drop.
For more on Philadelphia’s recent games, see the Flyers’ 5-4 loss to the Ducks and their earlier matchup in the Senators vs Flyers preview. Philadelphia’s win over Ottawa is detailed in the Flyers beat Senators recap, and rookie forward Cole Knuble’s breakout is covered in the Cole Knuble first two NHL goals story.
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