Don't Cry, Hockey Doesn't End This Week

Right! The NHL's 2008 Stanley Cup Final will become final when the Detroit Red Wings are awarded the world of sports' most coveted championship trophy either tonight or after a Game 7 on Saturday. That's absolutely true. Sorry Pittsburgh Penguins fans. OK, so I'm not really sorry. My point is that there is so much more to come.

There's the NHL Awards Show in Toronto on June 12, 2008. New season ticket holders for the 2008-2009 season can enjoy the show while picking out their Verizon Center seats at the Washington Capitals Open House that same evening. Of course, Alex Ovechkin is expected to receive another award or two. After already claiming the Maurice "Rocket" Richard and Art Ross Trophies for leading the league with 65 goals and 112 points, he's up for a couple MVP awards as well. We will find out if he got the votes he deserved for the Lester B. Pearson Award and the Hart Memorial Trophy on the 12th. Keep in mind that Nicklas Backstrom may take the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year, and Bruce Boudreau should get the Jack Adams Award for coaching the team from the cellar to the playoffs.

The 2008 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Ottawa June 20 - 21. According to the NHL, 107 of the best draft eligible players arrived in Toronto last week for the Draft Combine. What do you think the Capitals will be looking for this year? General Manager George McPhee has done very well at the past few Drafts. Will he be as successful this time? It's a very exciting time for serious hockey fans.

On July 1st, hockey continues with the Unrestricted Free Agents hitting the open market. Although it's a more expensive route in acquiring veteran players, McPhee has also fared pretty well with this avenue. However, trades are where you usually get better value for your money. It'll be interesting to see who Washington is able to resign, who we might lose, and who George decides to bring to the team.

Another thing to look forward to is the Capitals Development Camp. Many of the young prospects will attend July 7th - 12th. Coaches and management get a better idea of what they have in the pipeline during this camp.

There really isn't that much down time. Sure, there will be a few weeks in the second half of the summer where things really slow down until training camp starts. But, there's plenty going on for a while yet.

Trophy Photos - NHL, Young Guns Photo/Graphic - Washingtoncaps.com

2008 Post Season Depression

It's going to take a while to get over the Washington Capitals loss in Game 7 last night. I'm so proud of each and every one of these guys. You have to be happy about how far they got this season. However, the reasons for the loss are debatable. They had some good chances to take care of it in the third period that they didn't make count. I just can't blame any of the players. The officiating was obviously the most deserving of blame, if you ask me.

As I said I'm proud of every player on the team. I'd also like to thank the players, owners, GMGM, coaches, staff and the entire Capitals organization for doing such a great job. They all deserved a better fate this season. I can't help but feel sorry for them, especially Olie Kolzig. Hopefully, he'll still be around next season. The good news is that you can be sure the Capitals will be playoff bound for years to come.

The following two songs by Queen are the tunes I reached for after the game. Music is what always gets me through life. I'll hit the sad and bittersweet stuff first. Eventually, I'll work my way up to something more cheerful. Let me know what you are listening to.

Queen - "My Melancholy Blues"


Queen - "Teo Torriatte" (Let Us Cling Together)

Flyers Vs Capitals 04/22/2008 EC Quarterfinal Game 7 Review

Flyers 3 - Capitals 2 OT

The Washington Capitals, who went further this season than anyone other than their organization and fans ever believed possible, lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the NHL's 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This was an exciting event, right from the start. The first period began with Washington's hero Alex Ovechkin putting a tasty crunching hit on Kimmo Timonen. The typically unimaginably horrible officiating started soon after with countless missed calls. In the middle of all that some good things were taking place, though. The Capitals were first to get on the scoreboard. After the officials made one of their intermittent penalty calls on Philadelphia, Washington went on the power play. Just after a faceoff in the offensive zone, Sergei Fedorov passed the puck to Ovechkin. Alex sent in a slapshot and Nicklas Backstrom was there to poke in the rebound at 5:42. It was Backstrom's fourth goal in four games. Later on however, the Flyers got a PP goal of their own, when Scottie Upshall's slapshot trickled through Cristobal Huet's pads. After watching Washington's Boyd Gordon repeatedly getting knocked down to the ice without a penalty called, the period mercifully ended in a 1-1 tie.

With the first half of the second period full of even more undetected violations by the Flyers, it became clear that the Capitals were going to have to be exceptionally amazing to come out of this battle with a win. There were some calls on Washington that were missed as well. However, there wasn't going to be any balance here. The injustice that was dealt to the Capitals next, will be talked about for decades. On a drive to Washington's net just after the midpoint of the game, Philadelphia's Patrick Thoresen pushed defender Shaone Morrisonn directly into netminder Cristobal Huet. Huet went down hard and away from the net during the collision which Morrisonn couldn't possibly avoid. With the goal mouth wide open, Sami Kapanen scored what clearly should have been a disallowed goal. Yet, referee Paul Devorski immediately signaled that it was a goal. The goal was allowed to stand.

With about four and a half minutes left in the second period, Ovechkin came to the rescue. Viktor Kozlov sent a long range pass out of the Cap's end to Brooks Laich, near the blue line. Laich dished it to Alex, who snapped it into the net so hard and so fast that Martin Biron didn't have time to flinch. Biron never moved, as he only had the breeze caused by the puck zipping by, to let him know what just happened. The second period ended with the score even at 2-2.


The third period was a total disgrace to the NHL and any fan of hockey, as well as anyone who gives a damn about right and wrong. In other words the ref's swallowed their whistles and it was anything goes. They even let play continue after the puck left the rink, bounced off the safety meshing and returned to the ice surface.

After letting everything go in the third period and the beginning of overtime, Washington's Tom Poti was sent to the penalty box for hooking at 4:15. It was at this point that I finally started experiencing the nervousness that a lot of other Cap's fans had been complaining about before games. For the last few weeks, I had remained almost unyieldingly confident. Now, with the Flyers hanging out in the Capital's end during sudden death OT, all of a sudden I was consumed with complete and total panic. At 6:06 my fears were realized as Joffrey Lupul scored the deciding PP goal, ending what seemed like everything in existence.

All Photos - Nick Wass / AP

Balls To The Wall...Man

The Washington Capitals host the Philadelphia Flyers for Game 7 in the EC Quarterfinals of the playoffs tonight. The winner moves on to round 2. For both teams, it's "Balls To The Wall".

Accept - "Balls To The Wall"

Capitals Vs Flyers 04/22/2008 EC Quarterfinal Game 6 Review

Capitals 4 - Flyers 2

The Washington Capitals evened up their first round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers with another win last night. They had to come back after getting behind by two, but they've been there before. They seem to have a strong need for the dramatic. None of the players more so than Alex Ovechkin, who scored the game winner and an extra insurance goal.

The Capitals looked just a touch out of sinc in the first period. They kept the pressure on. But, they committed turnover after turnover. Eventually, the Flyers were able to take advantage and went ahead on power play goal by Mike Richards, with Matt Bradley in the penalty box for hooking. Washington had their share of scoring chances, seven to the Flyers five. Brooks Laich had three shots on goal in the first. Another bright spot in the period was a massive open ice hit on a Flyers defender by Mike Green.

The second period didn't start off to well either. Philadelphia got their second PP goal at 1:18, on a strike by their hottest hand, Danny Briere. That's Briere's sixth goal and tenth point in the series. However, the Cap's took over from that point. Cristobal Huet made 16 saves for Washington in the period. Martin Biron had 15 saves of his own, but he was looking a bit shaky. Capitals' defenseman Tom Poti made a couple nice saves also. He's been very alert by the net lately, making kick saves and diving poke checks. While Washington was increasing the pressure on Philadelphia, the Flyers increased their physical play. That aggressive "physical" play included some dirty tricks as usual, some of which was detected by the officials.

Drawing toward the mid point of the game, Nicklas Backstrom got his second goal of the playoffs. It started with a long range outlet pass by Steve Eminger, who's played very well, even with limited ice time. Brooks Laich received the puck and sent it on to Alexander Semin. Semin and Backstrom seemed to be casually passing the puck back and forth uncontested, before Nick snapped it by Biron at 9:34. The Cap's didn't make good on any of their power play chances in this frame, but they did have success at even strength. After Laich loosened up the puck with a nice hit on Briere, they struck again at 18:03. John Erskine sent in a hard shot. Semin followed it up and popped in the rebound for the tying goal. That was Semin's third goal of the playoffs. He now has a four game point streak.

Less than three minutes into the third period, Alex Ovechkin ended his four game goalless streak. The Flyers turned over the puck, and Viktor Kozlov fed a pass to Ovechkin. Alex accelerated up the ice, leaving everyone behind. One leg pump, and then he sent the game winner into the net. At 10:19, Philadelphia got caught with too many men on the ice. A problem the Cap's have been suffering from. It only took 22 seconds for Washington to take advantage of the opportunity. Sergei Fedorov tipped the puck into the offensive zone. After he recaptured the puck, he sent it over to Brooks Laich. Laich fed it to Ovechkin, who slapped in his second goal of the game. The Flyers seemed to ease up a little bit at this point. They didn't give up completely, but some of their fans did. The rest of the crowd started booing their team, with two minutes left on the clock. The Capitals didn't show a lot of excitement at this point. They remained calm as time ran out, knowing that they aren't done yet.

Philadelphia didn't want a Game 7, but they're going to get one. Don't expect them to lay down and let the Cap's roll over them. They're most likely going to give it all they've got tonight. Let's hope the Washington does the same.

Photo of Alex Ovechkin - Tom Mihalek / AP
Other Photos - Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

Don't Stop Me Now...Please

Getting ready for Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Playoffs, I'm sure the Washington Capitals are thinking "Don't Stop Me Now".

Queen - "Don't Stop Me Now"

Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive, and the world...I'll turn it inside out Yeah!
I'm floating around in ecstasy
So, don't stop me now...Don't stop me
'Cause I'm having a good time...Having a good time

I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky
Like a tiger...Defying the laws of gravity
I'm a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go go go
There's no stopping me

I'm burning through the sky Yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'lin at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man out of you

Don't stop me now...I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball...Don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call
Don't stop me now...'Cause I'm having a good time
Don't stop me now...Yes, I'm having a good time
I don't want to stop at all

I'm a rocket ship on my way to Mars
On a collision course
I am a satellite...I'm out of control
I'm a sex machine ready to reload
Like an atom bomb
About to...Oh oh oh oh oh explode!

I'm burning through the sky Yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'lin at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic world out of you

Don't stop me, don't stop me, don't stop me
Hey hey hey!
Don't stop me, don't stop me
Ooh ooh ooh...I like it!
Don't stop me, don't stop me...Havin' a good time, good time
Don't stop me, don't stop me
Aaaawwwww Alright

Aaaawwwww...I'm burning through the sky Yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'lin at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man of you

Don't stop me now...I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball...Don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time
Just give me a call
Don't stop me now...'Cause I'm having a good time
Don't stop me now...Yes, I'm having a good time
I don't wanna stop at all

Flyers Vs Capitals 04/19/2008 EC Quarterfinal Game 5 Review

Flyers 2 - Capitals 3

Before today's first round playoffs Game 5, the Washington Capitals' head coach Bruce Boudreau said "I'm not ready to go home yet". Thanks to their win today against the Philadelphia Flyers, there will be at least one more game. Every player on the Capitals' team chipped in and made a difference in this match.

Washington got 5 on 3 power play in the first period, after Philadelphia's Jeff Carter was called for interference on Mike Green, and then Kimmo Timonen joined him in the penalty box after hooking Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals kept play in the offensive zone. After grabbing his own rebound, Brooks Laich shuttled the puck to Alex Semin. Semin fired a pass to the net, where Nicklas Backstrom sent the back door wrist shot past Martin Biron for the first goal of the game at 7:31. The Capitals held the Flyers to only four shots in the first. They more than matched Philadelphia's physical play. Just before the period ended, Ovechkin hit Jim Dowd so hard, Dowd nearly ended up on the players' bench.

Just 1:25 into the second period, the Capitals increased the lead to two goals. Viktor Kozlov pushed Scottie Upshall away from the puck, behind the Flyers' net. He skated it toward the corner, drawing two defenders away from the front of the goal. He passed the puck to a wide open Sergei Fedorov, who backhanded in his 51st career playoff goal. Mike Green also got his first of two assists in the game on the play. It took 11:10 and a couple really lame penalty calls on the Cap's for the Fly's to answer back. Mike Richards sent the puck to Danny Briere on the left side of the goal, drawing over netminder Cristobal Huet. After Huet was committed, he slide the puck to the other side, where Vinny Prospal sent it to the back of the net. Washington was able to keep Philadelphia's shots down to seven in this middle period.

Around five minutes into the third period, Philadelphia's R.J. Umberger had me laughing pretty hard. He tried to draw a penalty by starting something with Donald Brashear. To me, the inevitable pounding of a lifetime just wouldn't be worth it. Donald wasn't falling for that trick. With the Cap's ahead, it just wasn't the right time. About a minute after the Flys' Scott Hartnell went to the box for hooking at 13:38, I got another good chuckle. The score sheet shows assists by Green and Fedorov. But, when Semin sent in his net seeking missile at 14:33, it had to make it's way through no less than seven bodies before reaching the back of the net. I stopped laughing for a little bit, when Philadelphia's Derian Hatcher scored less than a minute later, with the help of Prospal and Briere. But, by the time the Fly's iced the puck with minute and a half left in the game, I was smiling pretty big again.

This was a great game on so many levels. The Capitals played very hard and very smart. They didn't let themselves get rattled by the energetic and often dirty play of the Flyers, or the inconsistent officiating. Washington finished their checks, blocked shots and kept their sticks in the lanes. Tom Poti had what may have been two goal saving poke checks, deep within the Caps' end during the second and third periods. John Erskine was excellent in his role again, putting a fair amount of fear into any Flyers who might want to hang out in Washington's crease or take liberties with his teammates. Donald Brashear had seven hits in his 6:52 of ice time, six within the first period alone. Alexander Semin seems to be maturing, playing more physically and smarter than ever before. Ovechkin went goalless again, but he's starting to get open more often. With his increasing chances, it's only a matter of time. He and his Capitals mates will get more time Monday, during their EC Quarterfinals Playoff Game 6.

All Photos - Len Redkoles / Getty images

If You Want Blood...You've Got It!

Watching the Washington Capitals regain their more focused as well as aggressive style of play in last night's playoff game made me think of this rockin' AC/DC tune. It's a message to the Philadelphia Flyers that they are obviously ready to back up with action.

AC/DC (with Bon Scott)"If You Want Blood (You've Got It)"

It's criminal
There ought to be a law
Criminal
There ought to be a whole lot more
You get nothing for nothing
Tell me who can you trust
We got what you want
And you got the lust

If you want blood, you got it
If you want blood, you got it
Blood on the streets
Blood on the rocks
Blood in the gutter
Every last drop
You want blood, you got it

It's animal
Living in a human zoo
Animal
The shit that they toss to you
Feeling like a Christian
Locked in a cage
Thrown to the lions
On a second's rage

If you want blood, you got it
If you want blood, you got it
Blood on the streets
Blood on the rocks
Blood in the gutter
Every last drop
You want blood, you got it

Blood on the rocks
Blood on the streets
Blood in the sky
Blood on the sheets
If you want blood - you got it

I want you to bleed for me

If you want blood, you got it (Keep repeating)

Capitals Vs Flyers 04/17/2008 EC Quarterfinal Game 4 Review

Photo - Mike Stobe / Getty Images

Capitals 3 - Flyers 4 2OT

Unlike the previous two playoff games, the Washington Capitals definitely played well enough to win this double overtime thriller versus the Philadelphia Flyers. They showed no fear as they heavily forechecked, backchecked and aggressively drove to the net.

It only took 42 seconds for Philadelphia to get on the scoreboard. Jeff Carter backhanded a shot past Cristobal Huet. Huet was cleaned out by Scottie Upshaw after the puck got by him, no penalty called as usual. At the other end a few seconds later, Alexander Semin took exception to being high sticked by Scott Hartnell. Everybody gathered in the corner and exchanged pleasantries. As is his typical wussey way, Danny Briere quickly got himself out of harms way and circled around looking for a defenseless victim. Briere figured the least scary opponent would be Washington's rookie center Nicklas Backstrom, so he sucker punched him in the back of the head before putting him in a headlock. Both Semin and Briere got two minutes in the penalty box for roughing. Briere also got called for holding. As Briere was escorted to the box, he was allowed to go over to bark at Backstrom some more. After another incident, where Alex Ovechkin's visor was mysteriously broken off his helmet, the Capitals answered back with the power play goal. Backstom got a perfect pass from Ovechkin and snapped the puck past Martin Biron for his first NHL playoff goal.

Photo - Tom Mihalek / AP

The next tally was also a Capitals' PP goal. This time Backstrom sent the beautiful cross ice pass through the crease to Semin, who banged in his first NHL playoff goal at 12:59. It was the first time since the end of the third period in Game 1 that Washington had been in the lead. After a lot more rough stuff, bitchin', whinnin', complainin' and missed penalty calls, Carter snapped in his second goal of the game.

Just under six minutes into the second period, a loose puck ended up in front of Steve Eminger. Emmy sent in the short side wrister for his first NHL playoff goal. The helpers on this one went to Semin and Brooks Laich. Laich was also instrumental in the other two Capitals' goals, as he was the one clearing the crease to the open shooting lanes. After a lot of exciting play by Washington and both goaltenders, as well as plenty of dirty misbehaving by the Flyers (See Semin's lacerated nose...At least Jim Dowd didn't completely remove his head), the period came to an end.

Photo - Mike Stobe / Getty Images

The Cap's started the third period ahead 3-2, with 1:24 of PP time on the clock. Unfortunately, after a few good scoring chances by Alex Ovechkin and the boys along with a couple amazing saves by Huet, the little pest Briere evened the score 3-3 at 10:01. With Matt Cooke taking a couple punches to the face, and John Erskine clearing the creases like the Flyers were mere bowling pins, Washington held the game to a tie through the end of regulation.

Washington had a few more scoring chances during the two overtime periods that were so close it had to have anyone watching on the edge of their seats yelling "Oooohh!" Just over six minutes into the second OT, Philadelphia's Mike Knuble parked himself by the Washington net. After a couple whacks, he pried Huet's skate from the post and banged in the heart breaking game winner on the next try.

Photo - Tom Mihalek / AP

Washington played so well and so hard, they really did deserve a win. However, the Flyers took their third straight. There are a lot of reasons to remain hopeful. Don't forget, they did win eight straight games before losing the second playoff game. Now, they need to take three straight. The percentages may be against them, but the determination that had disappeared for the last couple games has returned with a "vengeance", to use Philadelphia's favorite new big word.

"Never Surrender"...I Said..."Never Surrender"

In these trying times for the Washington Capitals, some fans and maybe some players are losing faith way to fast. It's not time to panic, and it's not time to give up. If the Cap's were the type of team to give in so easily after getting on a down slide, they would not have come so far. They would not have made it into the playoffs this season. But, they have made it, haven't they? Now it's time once again to get the job done. Get on with it, and ..... Never Surrender!

Triumph performing "Never Surrender" at US Festival 1983

Out in the streets inspiration comes hard
The joker in the deck keeps handin' me his card
Smilin' friendly he takes me in
Then breaks my back in a game I can't win
Jivin', hustiln', what's it all about?
Everybody always wants the east way out
Thirty golden pieces for the judas kiss
What's a nice boy doin' in a place like this?

Chorus:
Never surrender - keep your dreams alive
Never surrender - hold your head up high

Modern apathetics; you got plenty of nothing to say
Some are born to follow: some will make their own way
Today you found a hero tomorrow you'll forget
You're lookin' for convenient truth you haven't found it yet
You don't make commitments no time for regrets
Easy come and easy go and easy to forget
You don't ever take responsibility
Don't you know that part of you is part of me?

Repeat Chorus

Never surrender, it's easier said than done
But you go to finish what's already begun
Never, that's forever, seems like such a long time
But I only got one life to live - it's gonna be mine

Never surrender - keep your dreams alive
Never surrender - hold your head up high
Never surrender - we cannot be denied
Never surrender - spread your wings and fly

...I Said...

Saxon performing "Never Surrender" in 2005

I was born on the back streets
On the rotten side of town
I never had me nothin'
Just people puttin' me down
Coming from the dark side
Across the railroad track
Leaving wasn't easy
But I'm never going back

Never surrender
When you're up against the wall
Never surrender
Stand up fight them all

I'm sticking in the fast lane
I never gonna quit
I'm taking all my chances
I'm gonna take 'em quick
I started from the bottom
But I'm headin' to the top
There ain't nobody gonna help me boy
I'm never gonna stop

Never surrender
When you're up against the wall
Never surrender
Stand up fight them all

Never surrender
When you're up against the wall
Stand up fight them all

I was born on the back streets
On the rotten side of town
I never had me nothin'
Just people puttin' me down
Coming from the dark side
Across the railroad track
Leaving wasn't easy
But I'm never going back

Never surrender
When you're up against the wall
Never surrender
Stand up fight them all
Never surrender
When you're up against the wall
Never surrender
Stand up fight them all

Never Surrender
Stand up fight them all

Capitals Vs Flyers 04/15/2008 EC Quarterfinal Game 3 Review

Capitals 3 - Flyers 6

The Washington Capitals didn't play much better in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Playoffs than in Game 2. They continued to be overpowered by the Philadelphia Flyers. Turnovers, bad penalties and a lack of leadership were to blame once again.

It only took 20 seconds for the Flyers to get a scoring chance, but it wasn't until late in the first period before they were able to get the first goal. The Capitals were intermittently more aggressive than in the last game, defensively and offensively. Around the middle of the first, Alexander Semin sent a snapshot in from the left faceoff circle that hit Flyers' goalie Martin Biron in the face mask so hard it took him down. After a couple minutes, he was alright and play resumed. With a 3 on 2 drive, it was Danny Briere that got Philadelphia on the scoreboard at 16:10. The Capitals answered back just over a minute later. Donald Brashear sent a perfect pass from behind the Flyers' net to Eric Fehr. Fehr made a beautiful shot that gave him his first NHL career playoff goal. It didn't take long to wipe the smiles from Caps' fans faces. Briere pushed Washington defenseman Tom Poti away from the front of the Capitals' net, while Scott Hartnell sent a long range slapper into the goal. Washington never suspected the role reversal played out by Hartnell and Briere. Just 17 seconds later, Sami Kapanen took advantage of a bad pass by Milan Jurcina and put the Flyers up by two.

In the penalty laden second period, Washington temporarily got back within one. Mike Green got his third goal of the playoffs on a well screened shot at 7:28, while on the power play. But, the Flyers weren't through roughing feathers. At 14:27, Briere went to the penalty box for roughing, after he tackled Caps' netminder Cristobal Huet. A man advantage at this point would've given Washington a scoring opportunity. But, Huet very stupidly pushed down Briere in retaliation while the referee with his arm up for Briere's infraction was standing right there watching. To me, that's your idiotic pivotal play of the game. If you're going to get revenge, your timing has to be a lot better than that. Of course, no call on Briere for giving Huet a whack on the back of the head as he skated to the box. With Poti in the box for hooking late in the period, Briere scored again with 9.8 seconds left on the clock. Danny now has four points in the playoffs.

The third period went much like the second. Plenty of penalties for both sides. Green got into a little altercation with Philadelphia's Scottie Upshaw 17 seconds in. I guess that was supposed to fire up the troops. It failed to deliver much motivation for the Cap's. However, when Brooks Laich was credited with tipping in a shot from Shaone Morrisonn at 15:26, the guys seemed to get a little more lively. Well, just in time huh? Not really. Just over three minutes left in the game, Morrisonn sends an outlet pass to Green. Mike Richards picked off the puck and drove to the Cap's net. Green tripped him before he got a shot off to prevent a goal being scored. The ref decided that this warranted a penalty shot, which richards promptly sent in via the five hole. With 1:45 left in the game, coach Bruce Boudreau called for a time out. Why? It was far too late to decide that he could inspire them into turning this game around. Afterwards, Washington did cycle the puck in the offensive zone for a bit before the puck bounced over Sergei Fedorov's stick and of the zone. Mike Knuble sent the puck into the empty net, and all that was left to do was wait for the final horn.

It was another embarrassing game in which the Capitals did few things right. They had not learned any lessons yet. They have to play their game. They can't let the Flyers intimidate them. If they focus on what they should be doing and close some of those passing and shooting lanes once and a while, they might accomplish something before it's too late.

All Photos - Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

Flyers Vs Capitals 04/11/2008 EC Quarterfinal Game 1 Review

Flyers 4 - Capitals 5

While the Philadelphia Flyers' top two forwards scored all their goals, the Washington Capitals' got some help from the fourth line in another typically dramatic come from behind Capitals win. Three of the Capitals ended up with a multi point effort in Washington's first playoff game since 2003.

The Capitals started off pretty well in the first period, with fourth line forward Donald Brashear putting the Cap's on the scoreboard at 3:16. Defenseman Tom Poti took a long range shot that was deflected toward Brashear by linemate Matt Bradley. Donald took the loose puck and made a fine move to the right side of the net before putting it past Philadelphia's netminder Martin Biron. I bet it felt good getting a playoff goal against his former team. Unfortunately, Flyers' RW forward Vinny Prospal evened the score about five minutes later, right off a draw. Washington's goalie Cristobal Huet never saw it coming. He had three guys screening the shot, including Caps' defensemen Milan Jurcina and Mike Green. Philadelphia's Scott Hartnell was the Flyer camping out at the crease, as usual.

The second period started off much like the first, with fourth line center scoring a goal at 4:08. Matt Bradley was in on this one too. He dumped the puck deep into the Flyers end, drawing two defenders along with him as he retrieved the puck. Then, while facing the end wall, Brads sent the puck between his legs and back toward Dave Steckel. Steckel roofed his first NHL level playoff goal, glove side. After that, the Flyers started to get a little nasty. Like when Scottie Upshall took a shot around the middle of the period. While Huet was trying to make the save, Jeff Carter followed up the shot by jamming his stick into Huet's crotch. That went unnoticed by the referees. The slash by Danny Briere behind the net was called at 9:38. But, Washington failed to score with the man advantage. Worse yet, Mike Knuble fed an outlet pass to Briere, as he was released from the penalty box two minutes later. Briere snapped it past Huet to tie the score 2-2. Cristobal seemed a little shaky for the most of the second period. With the Capitals' defense not being quite as aggressive as they should've been at the same time, Washington wasn't looking very good. When Prospal made it 3-2 after a turnover at the end of a Cap's line change, the stunned fans were quiet for the first time in weeks. A flicker of doubt went through my mind, when Briere got his second on a lucky back door chance about three minutes later.

As soon as the third period started, you could tell that the Capitals were back on line. The coaches and the veteren players with Stanley Cup Playoff experience must have straightened out the younger guys during the second intermission. In his first playoff game at the NHL level, Mike Green scored at 1:50 into the third. LW forward Alexander Semin passed the puck from the left sidewall to Sergei Fedorov at the far edge of the faceoff circle. Fedorov dished the puck to Green as he drove in on the other side. Green put it in past Biron, who tripped Mike as he crossed the top of the crease. With the Cap's resurging, Philadelphia took a few more cheap shots. Semin was hooked and Huet was downed in his crease. The ref's finally called a penalty, when Briere high sticked Matt Bradley. It sure looked intentional to me, as there was no reason for him to lift his stick up so high and horizontally. The Capitals made good use of this power play. Nicklas Backstrom passed the puck to Mike Green, who fired a hard slapshot that hit Flyer Patrick Thoresen. Alex Ovechkin grabbed the puck and sent it back to Green. Green's second slapper went in at 6:26 to tie the game at 4-4. The boys did another one of those pile up celebrations, and the crowd's volume went up another notch or two.

During the third period, Washington's defense was doing a much better job of keeping Philadelphia away from the front of the net. The whole team was energized and made more good clean hits. With about 4 1/2 minutes left, Alex Ovechkin got his first playoff goal. Alex poke checked a lazy pass by Lasse Kukkonen. He beat Kukkonen to the puck and snapped it past Biron for the game winner. The crowd leapt to their feet and screamed M-V-P!...M-V-P!...M-V-P!

The middle period was a little rough, but the Capitals got their first playoff win since April 12, 2003. In typical Capitals' fashion, they came from behind scoring three of their five goals in the third period alone. Also typical, it was Alex Ovechkin with the goal that put it away for good. Like you, I can't wait for game two.

All Photos - Getty Images

Bring It On (Flyers)

Graphic - NHL.com

That's right. You heard me. Bring it on, right now. Because, like all Cap's fans, I just can't wait. Let the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games begin!

The Washington Capitals may have been waiting a few more years than the Philadelphia Flyers, but they're ready. After missing the playoffs for the first time in twelve seasons for 2006-2007, the Flyers are back in it. After missing the playoffs since the 2002-2003 season, the Capitals are too.

Photo - Getty Images

Both teams ended the 2007-2008 regular season with similar records. Washington was 43-31-8 with a total of 94 points, while Philadelphia managed to go 42-29-11 with 95 points. Both teams also needed an impressive record at the end in order to make it into the playoffs. The Flyers went 7-1-1, while our Capitals took 11 of their last 12. Both won their last regular season game. The Cap's hit their longest winning streak in several years, winning the last seven in a row. These two teams split the regular season against each other 2-2.

The only way to stop Alex Ovechkin.

Like Washington, Philadelphia will be packing some fire power for the post season. Their main offense is spread out over seven players, who scored at least 20 goals this season. Meanwhile, the Capitals have their scoring spread over about four or five. Of course, 65 of Washington's 249 goals were fired off by Hockey God, Alex Ovechkin. The goalie tandem of number one Cristobal Huet and now number two Olie Kolzig will be superior in net. The Cap's defense, which has been much better than in recent years, are also ready for the job at hand. Another weapon the Capitals have is their confidence inspiring head coach, Bruce Boudreau.

No matter what the goonie bird Flyers have in mind, the magnificent Capitals will be ready. So like I said before, bring it on!

"Bring It On" by Lenny Kravitz

I'm gonna walk my faith
Gonna raise my song
I'm gonna fight my battle
Gonna praise my Lord

It's getting heavy
But I'm ready
To take on this world and rock steady
So come on, bring it on

I'm gonna face my demons
Gonna turn them down
I'm gonna keep on moving
Gonna make my sound

It's getting heavy
But I'm ready
To take on this world and rock steady
So come on, bring it on

Bring it on [11x]