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Philadelphia Wins Series 4-3

Game Recaps

Alexander Ovechkin scored the game winner with 4:32 remaining in the third period as the Capitals scored a comeback victory over the Flyers Friday night at the Verizon Center.

Daniel Briere and Vaclav Prospal each had two goals for Philadelphia, which gave the Flyers a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame.

But the NHL's leading scorer amongst defensemen, Mike Green (18 goals), recorded his first two goals of the playoffs to draw the Caps even by 6:26 of the third.

Ovechkin send the home crowd into hysteria with a brilliant unassisted effort on the winner.

Each club's power play was 1-3. Marty Biron of Philadelphia allowed five goals on 27 shots; Washington's Cristobal Huet allowed four on 22.

Washington leads 1-0
 

The Flyers shut down Alexander Ovechkin while R.J. Umberger and Jeff Carter scored first-period goals, and Martin Biron got his third shutout in four games Sunday in a 2-0 victory over the Capitals, evening their series at one apiece.

"Everybody always says you want to split, going on the road, after the first two games," said Biron, who made 24 saves. "We played really well on the road, and now we have to carry that over."

Series tied 1-1

Daniel Briere scored the game winner at 19:50 of the second period on the power play. It was Briere's fourth of the playoffs, as he continued to upstage Alexander Ovechkin. The Flyers defeated the Capitals 6-3.

Briere, who scored two goals and one assist on the night, opened the scoring at 16:10 of the opening frame.

Eric Fehr tied it briefly for the Caps, but Briere and Vaclav Prospal set up Scott Hartnell at 18:26. Just 17 seconds later, Sami Kapanen converted a Jim Dowd feed to stretch the Flyer lead to 3-1.

Mike Green and Brooks Laich added goals for the Capitals, but Mike Richards would convert on a penalty shot at 17:01 of the third, making it 5-3, followed by Mike Knuble's first of the playoffs which closed out the scoring at 18:55.

Philadelphia leads 2-1

 

Mike Knuble scored in double overtime to put the Washington Capitals on the brink of elimination as the Flyers won, 4-3 Thursday night at Wachovia Center.

"It's an unbelievable feeling to score in this town and hear the building go nuts," Knuble said. "You pinch yourself. You can't believe it's happening."

Jeff Carter scored twice for the Flyers. With the Flyers trailing in the third, Daniel Briere scored his fifth of the postseason at 10:01 on the power play, which sent the game into overtime.

Nick Backstrom, Alex Semin and Steve Eminger scored for the Caps.

The Flyers outshot the Capitals 46-41.

Philadelphia leads 3-1

Alexander Semin scored at 5:27 of the third period on the power play with Scott Hartnell off for hooking, which gave the Caps a 3-1 advantage.

Derian Hatcher scored shortly thereafter on a shot from the slot, but it was too little too late as the Caps, who were much better in the physical game in this contest, forced a game six in Philadelphia.

Sergei Fedorov gave the Caps a 2-1 lead at 1:25 of the second. Nick Backstrom scored a 5-on-3 goal in the first.

If the Caps rally from this 3-1 series deficit, it would be only the second time in franchise history that it's been done. Last time, 20 years ago, it was also against the Flyers.

Washington's Cristobal Huet made 30 saves on 32 shots; Tim Thomas, 23 saves on 26 shots.

Game six is Monday at 7pm Eastern Time.

Philadelphia leads 3-2

Alexander Ovechkin, who hadn't scored since game one, scored two in Philadelphia Monday night as the Capitals staved off elimination with a comeback victory.

Ovechkin took a long pass through the neutral zone from Viktor Kozlov and scored on a breakaway--complete with his signature leg fake--making it 3-2 at 2:46 of the third period for the game winner.

Ovechkin scored again on the power play at 10:41 to salt away the victory.

Mike Richards and Daniel Briere scored in the first and second periods, respectively, to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead.

The Capitals struck back on second period goals by Nick Backstrom and Alex Semin to tie the score.

Martin Biron of the Flyers stopped 36 shots; Christobal Huet, 33.

Game seven is Tuesday night at the Verizon Center in D.C.

Series tied 3-3

Game 7:

Joffrey Lupul banged home a rebound off a Kimmo Timonen blast at 6:06 of overtime, eliminating the Washington Capitals and sending the Philadelphia Flyers to round two.

Lupul created the play with a hard forecheck off a Flyer faceoff win in the Capitals zone during a power play.  With Tom Poti off for tripping, Timonen, Daniel Briere and Lupul took full advantage, with a barrage of shots and movement toware Cristobal Huet's net.

The teams traded power play goals in the first period, Washington scoring first on a Nick Backstrom goal.  Scotty Upshall scored for the Flyers at 15:38.

Sami Kapanen scored at 9:47 of the second, then Alex Ovechkin knotted it at two apiece at 15:29.

Washington outshot the Flyers, 41-34.

The Flyers will now face Montreal.

Philadelphia Wins Series 4-3