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Washington Capitals: Top 5 home games to look forward to in 2019-20

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) signs autographs for fans on October 3, 2018, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. prior to the opening night game against the Boston Bruins. The Washington Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins, 7-0. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) signs autographs for fans on October 3, 2018, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. prior to the opening night game against the Boston Bruins. The Washington Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins, 7-0. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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#5 Feb. 8, 2020 vs. Philadelphia Flyers

LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 27: Matt Niskanen #2 of the Washington Capitals looks on during practice prior to Media Day for the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on May 27, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 27: Matt Niskanen #2 of the Washington Capitals looks on during practice prior to Media Day for the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on May 27, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

This Saturday night affair at Capital One Arena comes towards the latter half of a four-game midseason homestand. This Metropolitan Division rivalry game comes in the midst of a new chapter with two defensemen on opposite sides. Although this will be the third of four meetings, it’ll be the first time Washington Capitals fans will see the crossover firsthand. Radko Gudas in Capitals red, Matt Niskanen in Flyers orange.

Niskanen was traded to the Flyers to slightly free up some tight salary cap space. They were able to acquire Gudas with the Flyers retaining $1.05 of his $2.345 million cap hit.

Gudas is the central part of a new-look Capitals defense. Niskanen was one of the biggest leaders of the blueline, along with now-retired Brooks Orpik, that always gave an honest answer with the media when assessing the teams performance. Niskanen’s performance in the 2018 playoffs helped the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup and fans are highly likely to give him an ovation for all he did for the Capitals.

The Capitals swept the four game season series last year as the Flyers finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a .500 record of 37-37-8. They’ll look to guys like Niskanen to help right the ship.

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