After playing the first two games in front of a sea of red, the Capitals and Flyers will head up to I-95 to Philadelphia, for a change in scenery with fans clad in orange and black. The Capitals took a commanding 2-0 series lead with a 4-1 win on Saturday night in Game 2.
The Capitals picked up right where they left off as they took a 1-0 lead in the first period with a goal by John Carlson.
It was the second game in a row the defenseman provided the first goal. The Caps added to their lead early in the second period with a rare goal. As Jason Chimera was along the boards, he dumped the puck in and the puck slid past Flyers goaltender Steve Mason.
“It wasn’t good. My fault obviously,” Mason told reporters. “It put the team in a tough position after that. Just a bad goal.”
Braden Holtby had another solid outing as he stopped 41 of 42 shots for his 18th career playoff victory that tied him with Don Beaupre for second place on the franchise playoff wins list. Philly finally got a puck past Holtby in the second period with a goal by Jakub Voracek at 9:37. Later in the period, Alex Ovechkin scored his first goal of the playoffs. For Ovi, it was his 37th playoff goal, which leads the franchise. With 71 points Ovechkin needs just one more point to match Dale Hunter’s franchise record.
At 17:47 in the third, Nicklas Backstrom scored to give Washington the 4-1 win. Backstrom also recorded two assists for three points; the fifth time in his career he’s done that. He’s tied with Peter Bondra, Hunter, and Ovechkin for first in franchise history with three-point games. Washington was outshot by nearly 20, 42-23 but was pleased with the victory.
The Capitals will look to end a recent road slide as they closed the regular season having lost 10 of their last 12 away from Verizon Center. However, the Capitals were still “road warriors” as they led the league with 27 victories. Starting Monday night at Welles Fargo Center, none of that matters and the Capitals will look to go up in the series 3-0 to put Philly on the ropes. They will have to do it in a hostile environment.
By Michael Marzzacco
Links to other articles:
Best and worst from the Capitals’ Game 2 win over the Flyers (DC Sports Bog):
A slapstick goal paves was for the Capitals to a 4-1 win. Now, can they make this a short series? (DC Sports Bog):
Alex Ovechkin’s physical presence making a difference in series (The Washington Post):
Series Shifts to Philly for Game 3 (Dump ‘N Chase):
Capitals winning the special teams war (CSN Mid-Atlantic):
The Narrative: Special Teams, the One That Got Away and the 41 That Didn’t (Japers’ Rink):
Flyers:
Finally back home
