FIRST PERIOD NOTES;
A wide open game to start the period as the teams move quickly through both zones. Ray Emery in goal for the Flyers looked sharp on a tough shot by Alexander Semin. Jose Theodore is also off to a surprisingly good start for the Caps. Richards passes the puck to Giroux and he hits the post close in to the net. This is a fun game to watch. There is lots of end to end action and plenty of hitting. It’s quite a change from watching teams that have very little skill, and a pleasant one at that. This is the way the game was meant to be played. I haven’t seen any staged fights yet. ( Thank God !!! ) I guess the better teams , like the Flyers and Capitals, have too many skilled skaters to bother with having players who are only there to fight. The skating and passing is so good with these teams, that there are very few whistles, and at the same time, the game is interesting to watch because it is so fast paced. There is very little sustained pressure for either team, because of the balanced skill on offense and defense for both clubs. Mike Knuble with a good close chance for the Capitals, but he shoots just wide of the net. Flyers pressure the front of the net, but Jose Theodore finds the puck and covers up, to get a whistle. Semin with a close in chance on Emery , but he can’t take advantage of it. The first penalty call of the game is made against the Flyers Ole- Kristian Tollefsen for cross checking.
2ND PERIOD NOTES;
Flyers apply pressure but Theodore is up to the challenge with Brendan Morrison in the penalty box. Flyers do score , with Scott Hartnell finishing of a passing play and beating Ray Emery for the 1-0 lead on the power play. Jeff Carter hits the post, and Nicklas Backstrom called for a minor penalty, right after that play. End to end play continues with both teams. Hatrnell nearly scores on a beautiful pass from Mike Richards and just misses. Alex Ovechkin comes close to scoring on a scramble in front of the net. Theodore gets help from a goal post to keep the score at 1-0. Capitals will go on a 2 man advantage power play. Capitals maintain good puck control, but Ray Emery is solid on good plays and difficult shots from the Capitals best players, Ovechkin, Semin, and Green. Emery made 5 saves in one sequence during the 2 man advantage. Braydon Coburn scores for the Flyers on a screen shot with James Van Riemsdyk in front of the net, to make it a 2-0 lead, during a power play with the Capitals Tyler Sloan off for hooking. Alex Ovechkin scores on a beautiful wrist shot. Nicklas Backstrom with a quick release to finish a passing play and gets the puck past Emery to tie the game , moments after the Ovechkin goal, on the power play with Flyer Mika Pyorala in the penalty box.
THIRD PERIOD NOTES;
Flyers apply pressure in the Capitals zone in the first three minutes. Washington’s Jeff Schultz called for interference. Alexander Semin smokes a wicked snap shot past Ray Emery. Washington with their third straight goal after trailing 2-0 earlier. A penalty shot is called after the Flyers Darrol Powe is pulled down on a breakaway. Theodore plays it well and makes the save. The Flyers maintain good pressure and puck control on the power play with Mike Knuble in the penalty box. The third period is a fast paced one with less than 5 minutes remaining. Ovechkin with a dangerous scoring chance and subsequent save by Emery. Flyers apply pressure on Theodore. Green with a dangerous shot and Emery makes the save. Flyers applying the pressure with a minute left in the third. Alex Ovechkin scores into the empty Flyer net, with his second goal of the night, and 4 points on the night for Backstrom, with the final score 4-2 for the Capitals.
GAME SUMMARY;
What a pleasure to watch a game that featured some of the most skilled players in the N.H.L. There were no staged fights,and no players who could only fight and do nothing else. There were lots of hits, and Ovechkin was the leader for both teams with five. There was great action around both nets, as Theodore and Emery made some excellent saves. This game also illustrates why it is so crucial to build through the draft. Whether it’s the Capitals Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, and Green, or the Flyers Carter and Richards, the teams that are contenders every year, not just once in a while, are all assembled through the draft. There is no getting around it. These two teams , along with the Penguins and Red Wings, are the blueprint that every team should follow !!!