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THE FRANCHISE: Alex Ovechkin vs. Daniel Briere

Ovechkin had one of the great regular seasons in recent league history and is likely to spend plenty of time at the podium during the NHL awards ceremony because of it. But this will be his first foray into the postseason, and there has been plenty of talk out of Philadelphia about different defenses the Flyers will throw at him.

Briere and Mike Richards are 1 and 1A for the Flyers, but it was the likeness of the former Sabres co-captain that graced billboards and other advertising avenues to promote the team’s return to prominence before the season. Briere signed an eight-year, $52 million contract in the offseason and led a balanced offense with 31 goals.

Both have questions (Ovechkin’s postseason inexperience and Briere’s lingering lower body injury), but betting against Ovechkin this season has not been a wise business venture.

Advantage: Capitals

THE SIDEKICK: Nicklas Backstrom vs. Mike Richards

Backstrom had a slow start to his rookie season, but his development spiked when he made the permanent move to center and coach Bruce Boudreau put him and Ovechkin together — something other teams will see for a long time.

Richards has been billed as one of hockey’s next great leaders, and he might be the Flyers’ captain for a decade after signing a 12-year, $69 million extension in December. His offensive improvement has been the big story this season. Expected to be more of a two-way forward with the ability to chip in on offense, Richards scored 28 goals and a team-leading 75 points this year.

Backstrom’s ability to handle the increased intensity and physical nature of the playoffs is still to be determined, but Richards has proved his postseason prowess at both the Ontario Hockey League and American Hockey League levels. With all of the attention on Ovechkin, Backstrom could break out.

Advantage: Flyers

THE GOALIE: Cristobal Huet vs. Martin Biron

Needing a hot goaltender in the playoffs might be a hockey cliche, but none is hotter right now than Huet, who has won his past nine starts and is 12-3 since joining the Caps. He could be the final piece of the puzzle should the Caps make a deep run.

Biron was off to a great start in the season’s opening weeks before cooling off, but he played great in the team’s final two games as the Flyers wrapped up the No. 6 seed with wins against New Jersey and Pittsburgh. Biron makes his Stanley Cup playoffs debut in tonight’s game.

It is a battle of goalies who were acquired from contending teams for second-round draft picks. Both are also relatively inexperienced in the postseason (Huet started six games for Montreal in 2005-06), but it is hard to go against the red-hot Huet.

Advantage: Capitals

THE X-FACTOR: Alexander Semin vs. Scott Hartnell

Semin had an interesting season, battling injuries and ineffectiveness in the first half before helping the second-half charge with a flurry of goals. He is a mystery wrapped in an enigma to be sure, and how he reacts in his first postseason exposure could prove key for the Caps. Can he withstand the extra physical play, or will he disappear — or worse retaliate and draw stupid penalties?

Hartnell seems to be in the middle of something all the time, and he should be in the middle of a lot of things during this series. But his offensive contributions can’t be overlooked, and he is part of a forward group the Caps can’t match in depth.

A goal to help Semin find his postseason legs could provide a huge lift for the Caps, who will need others to supply offense besides Ovechkin and Backstrom and especially at even strength. The Flyers just need Hartnell to be on the right side of the edge he plays on.

Advantage: Flyers

THE BACK END

Mike Green was a monster in the postseason for the Hershey Bears, and the Caps will hope he can duplicate that at this level. Tom Poti has been a different player since his shoulder injury healed near the season’s midpoint, while the Caps will need Milan Jurcina and John Erskine to match the big bodies of Philadelphia up front while avoiding the penalty box.

Braydon Coburn hasn’t had the breakout season Green has, but he is not far behind on the list of top young defensemen. Kimmo Timonen has been what the Flyers expected when they traded for him and signed him to a six-year extension.

Both units have injury concerns (Shaone Morrisonn and Jeff Schultz for Washington, Jason Smith and Derian Hatcher for Philadelphia), but both also have acceptable short-term options. As much as Huet deserves credit for the recent run, the Caps have allowed only 20 even-strength goals in the past 20 games.

Advantage: Capitals

THE MUSCLE

Donald Brashear’s fight totals are down a bit, but he did handle Philadelphia’s Riley Cote decisively in coach Bruce Boudreau’s first game. Matt Bradley and John Erskine are also plenty willing to drop the gloves, and the Caps have plenty of other guys who will like to hit people.

Cote ranked among the league leaders in fighting majors, and the Flyers had seven players engage in at least three scuffles. Philadelphia returned to its physical roots this season, and some early season suspensions called into question the legality of some of their tactics.

Expect plenty of fireworks, especially in the opener as these two teams try to establish physical supremacy. The Flyers won’t have anyone in their lineup who can handle Brashear with the fists, but they are probably deeper when it comes to the rugged stuff.

Advantage: Flyers

— Corey Masisak