No Mike Green at practice on Monday at Kettler Iceplex. The defenseman took a hit late in yesterday’s game against Ottawa from Nick Foligno, but Caps coach Bruce Boudreau says his absence is unrelated. Green has a cold and was expected to meet the team at the airport for its trip to Philadelphia. Green did retaliate against Foligno and drew a slashing penalty so he obviously wasn’t happy with what transpired before that.

No Alex Semin or Tom Poti, either, at Monday’s practice in front of a packed house on the back end of a three-day weekend. Both players are still out with lower-body injuries and will not make the three-game road trip that continues to Long Island and Toronto. Matt Bradley (broken finger) is inching closer to playing, but also will not travel.

The initial game poses a stiff test. The Flyers (29-11-5, 63 points) have the best record in the Eastern Conference and it is Washington’s first trip to Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia is coming off nine road games in their last 10 and still went 7-3 during that stretch. Caps beat Philadelphia in overtime on Nov. 7 and lost to them in a shootout on Nov. 20. Both games were at Verizon Center.

“And they’re playing. Really good,” Boudreau said. “Just came off playing nine out of 10 on the road and won seven of them. They’re a complete team.”   

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