One Hated Rival to Another

As Bruce Boudreau noted after Sunday's win over the Penguins, the Caps go from playing one team they don't like to another they don't like Tuesday, when the Flyers make their last regular-season visit to Verizon Center.

The Caps, Flyers and Penguins have made a bit of a triangle the last few days, with Philadelphia still smarting after Martin Biron's fumble that led to Pittsburgh's 5-4 win at Wachovia Center Saturday afternoon. The gaffe cost the Flyers at least a point in the standings, and just put more doubt if Biron can be counted on again this year if the team hopes to make the next step to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Biron, who was one of the reasons the Flyers were able to nip the Caps in last year's playoffs, has been squarely under the microscope this season, as Philadelphia faces some serious goaltending issues as they seem to be locking in on the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference as the only non-division leader that isn't seemingly disinterested in making the postseason. While they only lead the Rangers and Canadiens by two points, they also have at least three games in hand on the rest of the pack - including on the Devils, who they trail by eight points in the Atlantic Division race.

Problem is for the Flyers (as it will be for the Capitals looking for a backup for Jose Theodore with Brent Johnson hurt) is that the market's very thin this year for netminders in the trade market. With only five teams really out of the running, the Flyers appear interested in trying to land Atlanta's Kari Lehtonen - who incidentally is 0-12 when matched up with Philadelphia's current backup, Antero Niittymaki, either in the AHL or NHL. With the rumored price being James van Riemsdyk, that's an awful steep price for a goaltender who really isn't much on an upgrade over what they currently have.

With Boston and Chicago apparently content to keep their current goaltending tandems - and Buffalo also in the market for a No. 1 with Ryan Miller out with a high ankle sprain - the price is high for goaltenders this year, leaving Philadelphia's hope of long-term success in doubt without much chance for an ugrade at the deadline without digging deep into their roster.

Of course, that's nothing new in Philadelphia, who have had a long list of good teams that were undone by suspect netiminding.

As for Tuesday's game, Daniel Briere won't be returning to action against Washington, but still should be plenty motivated following their tough defeat at the hands of the Penguins. Despite the setback, the Flyers still have won five of their last seven games, with Biron going 3-1-0 in his last four starts.

Part of that success has been thanks to Mike Richards' stellar play as of late, as he scored three goals and five assists to be the NHL's first star of the week, including notching his seventh shorthanded goal of the season. Philadelphia is exceedingly dangerous a man down as Richards puts pressure on the point - particularly against a team using a forward as a pivot, so the Caps will have to be wary of his prowess.

After getting thumped 7-1 in December up in Philadelphia, the last meeting of the two teams was an entertaining 2-1 Caps win last month at Verizon Center, a tightly-played defensive battle won in a shootout for Washington. The Flyers are probably the last team the Caps want to see in the postseason, just for their ability to slow down the Caps' free-wheeling game and also their willingness to use their grit against Washington's stars.

Tonight's contest should be a good test for the Caps to see how they stack up against a team that dispatched them out of last year's playoffs, and also one that is getting a dose of a team that was handed a stinging setback a couple of days ago.