Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
It was something any hockey fan could see coming between the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1. The bad blood between both clubs was there from the start of the game, as both clubs threw the kitchen sink at one another.
Watching this game was like watching an old school WWE cage match. There was plenty of violence, dirty hits, and elbows to the face. The only thing missing from this hockey game was The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
GAME 1 FLASHBACK – MOST PHYSICAL MOMENTS
Brooks Orpik and Nick Cousins get acquainted:
Alex Ovechkin destroys Sean Couturier along the boards. Couturier did not return to the game:
Tom Wilson and Wayne Simmonds fight each other:
Brayden Schenn’s 3rd period:
Brayden Schenn making sure Mike Richards realizes he’s been replaced https://t.co/3CvsjKjIO5
— Jordie (@BarstoolJordie) April 15, 2016
SHOULD WE EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME?
Washington D.C. and Philadelphia are rivals in all professional sports. Whether it is the Eagles and Redskins in the NFL, or Flyers and Capitals in the NHL, or Phillies and Nationals in MLB, there will always be a rivalry between the two cities because they are fairly close to each other geographically.
The Capitals and Flyers do not like each other. The players do not like one another, and the fanbases do not like one another. They play each other many times each season, and the rivalry only escalates if both clubs face one another in the playoffs.
Game 1 was only the first chapter to this playoff series. There will probably be more dirty hits in this series. There will be more scrums and fights too. The hitting and physical play is a part of the game, as both clubs are competing for the same prize.
WHAT SPARKS ARE ON TAP FOR GAME 2?
Game 1 provided several sparks during the game, so retaliation could be on the way between both teams in Game 2.
It will be interesting to see if the Flyers retaliate against Alex Ovechkin. He delivered a check to Sean Couturier midway through the 2nd period, and Couturier is not going to be available for the Flyers the rest of this playoff series. The Capitals Captain better be careful and on the lookout for all of his remaining shifts in this series.
On the Capitals side, it will be interesting to see if the Capitals decide to retaliate against Brayden Schenn. In the 3rd period, he delivered a high hit to Mike Richards and hit Karl Alzner as the time expired in the game. Schenn has been a thorn in the Capitals side in recent years, and Tom Wilson made note of that today:
Tom Wilson: good quote. Here he is, discussing the Schenn hit on Richards last night pic.twitter.com/Kx5WLl7Dum
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) April 15, 2016
The nastiness will continue throughout this series. There will be more combustible moments between these two Metropolitan Division rivals. So sit back, relax, and continue to enjoy playoff hockey!
By: George Foussekis
