Official Capitals vs Flyers Playoff Thread

That was an awsome game. I'm a Ranger fan so I was flipping back and fourth between the two games, but I'm rooting hard for Washington to win as well....that was a great game, Ovechkin is a beast.

Good analysis:

Capitals can go beyond Ovechkin
by MIKE CHEN, Special to FOXSports.com
Updated: April 11, 2008, 11:36 PM EST
Alexander Ovechkin took to the ice for a playoff game for the first time and ended up scoring a game-winner for the Washington Capitals.

But it's important to remember that the Caps, as much as they're identified with Ovechkin, are actually a pretty good team. Yes, all eyes are on Ovehkin, but this Washington team is much deeper than a lot of people give them credit for.

What surrounds Ovechkin and his setup man Nicklas Backstrom to make these Caps so dangerous? Let's take a look.

Mike Green: One year ago, Mike Green was just another run-of-the-mill defensive prospect. With 12 points in his first season on a pretty awful Washington team, no one outside of Green's family probably noticed him. What changed from his meek point total to a jaw-dropping 18 goals?

Well, it sure helps that his forward core is much better. However, one of the most telling stats about Green isn't something that's usually noticed. In 2006-07, Green had 68 shots on goal. In 2007-08, Green's shot total almost went up four-fold, finishing the season at 234, putting him among the league leaders.

His nose for the net, good defensive sensibility, strong passing, and two goals in Game 1 should make everyone forget about the injured foot that tarnished his rookie campaign.

Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Semin: The "other" Alex in Washington was coming off a sophomore season where he put up 38 goals. Unfortunately, the road's not always smooth when it comes to developing NHL careers, and Semin dropped from nearly a point a game to a season .67 points per game.

However, something changed in Semin with the arrival of veteran Sergei Fedorov.

While Fedorov isn't the same guy who won the Hart Trophy in the '90s, he's still one of the smartest players around and his skating is still top notch. The defensively-conscious Fedorov has offered a calming, experienced presence to the ice, and observers of Washington's second line noticed that a nice chemistry was developing between Semin and Fedorov.

The duo started to develop an innate sense of where the other was on the ice. More important, Fedorov has been more than happy to be a mentor to Semin, helping him through a season where things didn't go exactly the way Semin wanted. The result? A fast, effective second line that is ready to surprise any team that focuses solely on stopping Ovechkin.

Cristobal Huet and Olaf Kolzig: Take one franchise goalie with Stanley Cup final experience, add in an established #1 goalie, and you get enough depth in net to make any squad feel safe. Kolzig has been relegated to a backup role, but he's said all the right things in the press about being a team player — and at age 38, why not? The Caps know that if they need Kolzig, he's got enough experience and skill to be a steady presence in the crease.

As for Huet, his numbers have been outstanding since landing in Washington: a stellar .936 save percentage and a mind-boggling 1.63 goals-against average. Huet's simply been spectacular since arriving in D.C., and one has to wonder how bad the goalie-less L.A. Kings feel about giving up Huet all those years ago.

Brooks Laich: Many national readers still may not know who Brooks Laich is. The three-year veteran is a sixth-round checker who just happened to pot 21 goals; Laich is currently the Caps' third-line center and provides coach Bruce Boudreau with a scoring threat at almost all times on the ice.

Speed, tenacity, and yes, depth; these Caps may be this year's Cinderella story but they've got the guns to actually do some damage. Expect a physical, nasty battle with Philadelphia starting tonight; just make sure you don't only watch Ovechkin on the ice.

Not only did ovie score the game winner it was a spectacular play huh?

Just one man I kept hearing Flyers saying. Just one man. Well our one man poke checked a lazy pass and then stole the rebound right in front of the net and made two of your defensemen look like douchebags.

That play was sick! It was like watching Darrell Green step in front of a pass and take it al the way back for a TD ducking and dodging would be tacklers along the way

Yeah I was watching the game last night and it was about as good as it gets. When the Flyers went up 4-2 in the second I was sitting there thinking if we don't do something it's gonna be over, I can't believe how quickly they scored. But the third period was so much better, Mike Green came up huge to tie the game and then Ovie got the game winner. Game 2 is gonna be a lot of fun to watch.

Capitals' owner revels in diverse future - - Breaking News, Political News & National Security News - The Washington Times (http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080411/SPORTS04/447294200/1005/SPORTS)

Nice little piece on Leonsis. Young multi-millionaire, buys sports team, tries to win instantly with big splash acquisitions (gets into movies along the way), shifts focus to "grassroots" scouting and developing youth and depth. Sound like anyone else we know?

What a great game. Caught from about 5 minutes left in the 2nd period on (did see Brashear's goal early on), and Ovie's robbery and goal was awesome. But Greenie was on fire last night.

The big stat of the night to me is the Caps taking 12 shots on goal (scoring 3) vs. the Flyers taking 3. Not only did the Caps offense step up, their defense really put the screws to the Flyers. Should be a great game 2.

im beat. we represented last night. Section 115, row H. Rock the Red!

Where oh where is 8858's mouth? This team showed so much heart last night. To fight the way they fought, to score 3 unanswered in the final period, Ovie's INSANE game winner...

If there was any question who the best player in the league was... if there was any question on whether he could step it up in the bright lights of the playoffs... shhhhhh

im beat. we represented last night. Section 115, row H. Rock the Red!


Nice, good for you! The RED WAS ROCKIN even from the HD big screen, had to settle for the second best way to see the game last night.

We couldn't make the game last night. But I'm trying right now to round up tix for tomorrow Game 2, if we can stand on those chumps and get up 2 games to nuttin that will be LARGE.

Another RED OUT COMMIN! Go CAPS!

Where oh where is 8858's mouth? This team showed so much heart last night. To fight the way they fought, to score 3 unanswered in the final period, Ovie's INSANE game winner...

If there was any question who the best player in the league was... if there was any question on whether he could step it up in the bright lights of the playoffs... shhhhhh

Right here is my mouth, what do I care, the PENS are up 2 games, and totally dominating the senators just like they will the entire playoffs. Sure the caps won, good for them but remember it is the best out of 7...