The Broad Street Blog

The Orange Crush is back! After splitting the first two games in Washington, the first round match up between the Flyers and Capitals moved to Philadelphia. After completely shutting down and shutting out Washington on Sunday, Philadelphia had the momentum.

The Flyers needed to come out strong and prevent the frustrate the Capitals early, like they did in game 2. The Flyers came out with a vengeance. They were hitting the Capitals at every opportunity. Philadelphia played great defensively, preventing Washington from getting anything going. Offensively, the Flyers put all the pressure on the Caps. It was Capitals goaltender Christobal Huet who prevented this game from being a blowout in the first 15 minutes.

As the first period was coming to a close, 4 quick goals were scored in a two and a half minute span. It was Danny Briere who got things started for the Flyers. As the Flyers were moving up the ice, Vaclav Prospal carried the puck over the Washington Blue line and then dished the puck over the Briere on the wing who roofed the puck over Huet.

Washington would respond and tie the game up, but the Flyers kept attacking. Scott Hartnell scored the next goal after one-timing the cross ice pass from Prospal. Then 20 seconds later, as the Capitals were trying to get the puck out of the zone, Jim Dowd would steal it and pass to Sami Kapanen who would put the puck behind Huet for a 3-1 Flyers lead.

In the second period, Mike Green scored for the Capitals on the Power Play to pull the Capitals within one. However, the Flyers would shut down the Capitals for the rest of the period. On a Power Play late in the period, Danny Briere would get himself open and take a pass from Mike Richards at the point, then proceed to snipe the top corner of the net. The Flyers had their 2 goal lead back after two periods of play.

Late in the second period, after a whistle, Brooks Laich tossed Kimmo Timonen into the Washington goal. Christobal Huet barked at the officials even though his own player hit Timonen. Timonen was injured as a result and did not return to the game.

A frustrated Alexander Ovechkin resorted to Crosby-like tactics and diving. After contact with RJ Umberger, Ovechkin proceed to flip himself over and fall to the ice. Once on the ice, we went face down as if he had been shot. The officials bought it and called Umberger for tripping. It was completely over the top. For the rest of game, as Ovechkin would pass the Flyers bench, the players would let him hear it, and rightfully so.

In the third period, the Capitals would pull within a goal again. But that would be as close as they would get. After stealing the puck and coming in on a breakaway, Mike Richards was hooked down and given a penalty shot. Richards came in, faked out Huet and put the puck right through the five hole. Mike Knuble would add an empty net goal with about a minute left to cap off a 6-3 Flyers win.

Danny Briere has 4 goals in 3 playoff games. He now sits at the top of the league’s goal scoring and plus/minus statistics. Mike Richards’ penalty shot goal was his first career postseason goal. Scottie Upshall fought Mike Green early in the third period. Upshall got the better of the punches in. With the fight and some of the penalties the Capitals took throughout the game, their frustration is starting to show.

Highlights

Game Summary
Box Score

Tags:   briere · Capitals · Flyers · Hartnell · Kapanen · Prospal · RichardsNo Comments