Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the opening round series of the 2016 NHL playoffs. The teams’ now head to Philadelphia for games 3 and 4. Game 3 is Monday night. 

The starting lines for the Capitals:

Offensive lines:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Burakovsky-Kuznetsov-Williams
Chimera-Richards-Johansson
Winnik-Beagle-Wilson

Defensive pairs:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Orlov-Schmidt

Michael Latta, Taylor Chorney, Mike Weber and Stan Galiev were the healthy scratches for game two. The goalie match-up, provided by @washcaps:

QUICK TAKES
The Capitals were out-shot 19-5 in the first period, but the special teams would once again be the story, scoring the period’s only goal on a Caps power play, and shutting down a Flyers 5-on-3 power play late in the opening frame. Holtby’s 19 saves in the first period matched his save total from game one. Jason Chimera would stretch the Caps lead to 2-0 on a goal from center ice, that confused Steve Mason, who let it go five-hole. Jakub Voracek would close the gap to 2-1 midway through the middle frame. Alex Ovechkin would add a power play goal from his office towards the end of the middle frame to stretch the Caps lead to 3-1. Nick Backstrom would add the icing late, giving the Caps a 4-1 win, and a 2-0 lead in the series. Team stats for the game can be found here: Player stats for the game can be found here: Face-off stats for the game can be found here: Photos for the game can be found here:

Flyers came out with a pretty aggressive game to start the first period, registering 4 shots on goal to the Capitals zero shots on goal in the first five minutes. The Flyers game plan seemed to be shoot early and often from anywhere on the ice. The Flyers continued to hold a slight advantage in 5-on-5 play, out-shooting the Caps 6-1 through the first ten minutes of play in the opening frame. The Flyers Brandon Manning was called for holding at 13:33, giving the Caps the game’s first power play. John Carlson would get the games first score at 14:09 on a shot from the point, similar to his goal in game one.

First goal belongs to @washcaps. A seeing eye shot gives them the lead through 20 minutes. #WSHvsPHI #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/GuxXa40rQu

— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 17, 2016

The Capitals Jason Chimera was called for cross-checking at 16:06 of the opening frame. John Carslon was called for cross-checking at 16:59, giving the Flyers a 5-on-3 for 65 seconds. The Caps would successfully kill the two-man advantage, and ultimately kill off the 5-on-4, with the Caps yielding just 4 shots on goal during the Flyers power play. The first period would end with the Capitals leading 1-0. The Flyers led in shots on goal 19-5. Alex Ovechkin had the hit of the first period.

This on a loop for eternity. #CapsFlyers pic.twitter.com/yQw5l2OAYl

— Funk Hunter (@Hank_Upton) April 16, 2016

The second period began with 4-on-4 play for the first two minutes due to matching minors at the end of the first period. The Caps dominated 4-on-4 play, generating a couple of nice chances, but could not find the back of the net. However, just as the penalties expired, Jason Chimera would score from center ice on a goof by Flyers goaltender Steve Mason, who let the slow sliding puck through his five-hole, stretching the Caps lead to 2-0.

Yikes.#StanleyCuphttps://t.co/oASb0Vzlvf

— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 17, 2016

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The Flyers would strike back at 9:37 on a goal by Jakub Voracek.

It’s a back-and-forth affair in Washington. Voracek has @NHLFlyers on the board. #WSHvsPHI #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/gFtzGPCv0B

— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 17, 2016

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Alex Ovechkin would add a typical “office job” goal on a Caps power play to stretch the lead to 3-1.

Alex Ovechkin. Every. Single. Time. #WSHvsPHI#StanleyCuphttps://t.co/miVX4Bwtsh

— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 17, 2016

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The period would end with the Capitals leading 3-1. The Flyers led in shots on goal 31-18.

The Capitals had a great chance in the first minute of the final frame but Chimera’s close-range shot was high over a wide open net. Other than that, a fairly even 5-on-5 play during the early stages of the final frame. The Caps started to step up the offensive zone pressure about five minutes into the final frame, missing on several nice chances. John Carlson and Mike Richards laid the wood on two Flyers players mid-way through the final period.

LOVE the hits! #RockTheRed #CapsNation #LOVEmyCaps #ThisIsOurYear #WeWantTheCup #MyPlayoffsMoment #CaptureTheCup pic.twitter.com/5LfOocRBtH

— Caps1974 (@couchchris) April 17, 2016

Nicklas Backstrom would clinch it with a goal at 17:41, stretching the Caps lead to 4-1.

With two assists already, Backstrom ends the night with a perfect snipe. #WSHvsPHI#StanleyCuphttps://t.co/oiKddRkv3W

— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 17, 2016

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The Caps would hold on for the 4-1 win, and take a 2-0 lead in the series.

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