Washington vs Philadelphia Prediction 26 February 2026

Washington have won three of their four matches since early February. Ovechkin and his teammates are averaging 3.2 goals per game, while conceding an average of 3 goals. The Capitals have always been known for their effective power play. In their recent clash with Nashville, they capitalized on the man advantage twice, with scoring contributions from offensive defenseman Chychrun and recently recovered forward Dubois. It's quite unusual to see Spencer Carbery's squad sitting in 10th place in the East, especially considering they topped the standings in the previous regular season. There's still a chance to climb into the coveted top eight, as there's plenty of hockey left to play. However, the situation is complicated by the loss of key defenseman John Carlson. Additionally, there's a possibility that goaltender Logan Thompson and forward Tom Wilson might be rested following their trip from Italy.

Philadelphia have been struggling prior to the break, securing only three wins in their last ten outings. The Flyers average around 2.98 goals per game, which is decent, but their defense often falters, conceding an average of 3.2 goals per match. On the road, Rick Tocchet's squad makes even more mistakes, allowing 3.48 goals per game. After their victory over Washington, which we previously mentioned, they faced Ottawa and lost in overtime (1-2). Interestingly, it was once again Drysdale who found the net, doing so in the third period. Philadelphia's injury list currently includes forwards Abols and Foerster, as well as goalie Ersson. Defenseman Sanheim might be rested, similar to his Washington counterparts.