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.

Capitals Vs Maple Leafs 01/23/2008 Review

Photo: AP / The Canadian Press - Frank Gunn

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Capitals 2 - Leafs 3

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This was only the second time these teams have faced each other so far this season. The last time was also at Air Canada Centre, way back on October 29, 2007. The Washington Capitals, along with the team's former head coach Glen Hanlon, clobbered the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-1. This was the Caps' first visit while led by former Leaf and current head coach Bruce Boudreau. Bruce got to catch up with a lot of old mates while on this trip back. He probably bought a few tickets for family and friends to see this game.

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About six minutes into the first period, Alexander Ovechkin knocked down Tomas Kaberle. Leaf's Pavel Kubina got up in Ovie's grill. It wasn't much of a fight. But, it made me nervous that Kubina had a stick in the fist he was swinging with. No penalties were called. At 7:12, Chad Kilger deflected the puck past Washington's Olie Kolzig for the first goal. Just seconds later, the Capitals got their first Power Play when Toronto's Hal Gill was called for holding. However, they didn't get anything past netminder Vesa Toskala. Caps' Steve Eminger was later called for boarding. Maybe he misjudged the distance, when he pushed Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky into the wall. It looked like a shoulder injury, and Ponikarovsky would not return to the game. Washington's John Erskine however, spent the game putting nice, clean but heavy hits on Leafs throughout the game. Donald Brashear joined teammate Erskine in giving particular attention to Darcy Tucker. Tucker was introduced to the ice at least three times in the first period.

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Photo: AP / The Canadian Press - Frank Gunn

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The second period started off with Toskala temporarily losing his stick, but still making a save. Both goalies were very sharp in this game. But, nobody has stopped Alex Ovechkin from getting at least one goal in each of the last six games. Alex tied the score with his 39th goal of the season. Washington's Steve Eminger was making his presence known. At one point, he was in a corner playing the puck with one hand on his stick, while down on his knees and being hooked. The hook went uncalled. With a little over a minute left in the period, Caps' Mike Green went down, losing the puck. The Leafs' Alex Steen put the puck in the net, while Toronto's Nik Antropov rolled over Kolzig with no interference call. The period ended with the Cap's behind by one.

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For those of us watching the game on CSN-DC+, we were shown some old video footage of Cap's head coach Boudreau playing in a game as a Maple Leaf during the second intermission. Pretty neat, watching the old boy score a goal.

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A couple minutes into the third, Mike Green skated in reverse, putting a Rob Blake (one of my personal favorite players) style hit on Toronto's Jason Blake . The Capitals and the Leafs exchanged a few more penalties in the third. But, neither team scored a single PP goal in the entire game. Alexander Semin took a pass from David Steckel and drove to the net. He deked around a defender and backhanded the puck to the back of the net. Alex was upended by Toskala on the way by the net. But, he was all smiles as he got back up. A few seconds after play resumed, Semin got a good chance to put the Cap's ahead. But, the puck didn't get through. With less than 30 seconds left in regulation, the Leaf's Mats Sundin sent the game winner under a sprawling Olie Kolzig. Kolzig had been solid all night, but wasn't quite able to recover from the previous save in time to stop Sundin from getting his 409th career goal.

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Photo: Getty Images - Dave Sanford

The Capitals win streak ends at four games, and they finally lost a game in Canada. Washington will get another shot at the Maple Leafs tomorrow night, when the Leaf's pay their first visit this season to Verizon Center in Washington, DC.