Capitals vs Flyers Odds, Picks, and How to Watch

• The struggling Philadelphia Flyers are 1.5-goal home favorites against the Washington Capitals  going into their March 13th contest
• ESPN+ will broadcast the game starting at 7 PM EST
• Here are the odds, lines, picks and analysis for the game

The Washington Capitals couldn’t be playing much better and the Philadelphia Flyers couldn’t be playing too much worse as the 56-game NHL season approaches the halfway mark.

The Flyers are 1.5-goal home favorites against the Capitals heading into their March 13th contest, even though they have lost four of their last six.

Washington, meanwhile, is 8-1-1 in its last 10 and has scored four or more goals five times in those eight wins. The Flyers have given up 17 goals in those four losses.

Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers Odds

Odds taken March 12th at PointsBet

Flyers Linked to Multiple Trade Rumors

Mattias Ekholm. Alex Goligoski. Those defensemen are just two of the several trade market candidates the Flyers have been linked to in recent weeks as their team has struggled to regain its footing in the challenging East Division.

Fans keep waiting for the Flyers to make a move to shore up the team’s blue line corps. They have given up three or more goals in all six games they have played this month.

It hasn’t helped that goaltender Carter Hart hasn’t played as sharply as he did last season.  Hart owns a 3.61 goals-against average and .888 save percentage, compared to last season’s marks of 2.42 and .914. He’s giving up, on average, more than a goal per game more than he did last season. He looks out of sync, indecisive.

Seeing a lot of negativity about Carter Hart. This is why you pair young goalies with veterans. Young players have ups and downs as part of growing and reaching top potential. It’s part of the process and 99% of elite NHL players have these moments early on. Take a deep breath.

— Colby Cohen (@ColbyCohen36) March 10, 2021

Caps Dealing Well with Wilson Suspension

Tom Wilson’s importance to the Capitals has reached the point that losing him is not so different than losing Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom or John Carlson.  Wilson is now viewed as one of Washington’s core players.  He has 17 points, only two fewer than Ovechkin.

Tom Wilson hits Brandon Carlo up high.

Carlo needs help getting off the ice. pic.twitter.com/RgACye1H7l

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) March 6, 2021

The Capitals are still howling about losing Wilson to a seven-game suspension because they believe he delivered a clean hit to Boston defenseman Brandon Carlson.  But the Capitals are pleased that they are 3-0 since Wilson was suspended. They were worried losing Wilson could put a halt to the momentum they built over the  past 10 games.

While Wilson has earned a reputation for delivering controversial, suspension-earning hits, he has also become vital to the team’s offense and their leadership group. The Capitals often feed off his energy. But he doesn’t help his team when he gets suspended.

Capitals/Flyers Injuries

Flyers forward Michael Raffl is dealing with a couple of injuries, including a swollen hand. He’s day-to-day and could be back against Washington. His loss is not insignificant because he has been an essential role player for Philadelphia.

He’s a dependable penalty killer, and plays with tenacity and a snarl. He’s a heavy hitter, but he finishes his checks.  You notice when he’s on the ice.

The Capitals aren’t reporting any significant injuries.

Good to see. Michael Raffl (swollen right hand) skating here. He’s on opposite ice. We’ll see if he practices. pic.twitter.com/Dyqm9UODRe

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) March 10, 2021

Washington Playing Too Well to Ignore

The Capitals are coming off a 5-3 win against the Flyers. Even without Wilson, their forecheck and offense has shown plenty of bite. Washington is 8-5 against the spread on the road this season, while the Flyers are 5-8 ATS at home.

The Flyers are playing like a team waiting for something to happen, while the Capitals are playing like a true contender. One odd fact to consider: the Flyers (+1633) are still considered more of a Stanley Cup favorite than the Capitals (+2067). 

The Pick: Capitals (+105)