Wachovia Center played host to the fourth and final chapter of a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals. Today, it was the Washington Capitals who emerged victorious; with a 2-1 victory over the Flyers, the Capitals improved to 42-21-6 while the Flyers fell to 36-20-10 on the season.
Brooks Laich started off the scoring with a power play goal in the first period. However, Mike Knuble answered back with an equalizer midway through the second period.
But when it was all said and done, the day belonged to Alexander Ovechkin, who scored his league-leading 48th goal of the season, which ended up being the game-winner. Ovechkin, who also assisted on Laich’s power play goal in the first period, had only found the Philadelphia net once this season prior to today’s game.
The Flyers thought they tied the game when Kimmo Timonen blasted a slap shot past Jose Theodore, but the referees waived off the goal because Knuble was called for goalie interference. Theodore would end the day making 35 stops on 36 Flyers shots.
Philadelphia’s Martin Biron made 28 saves on 30 Washington shots; despite the loss, Biron has proven himself to be the #1 goalie in the City of Brotherly Love.
With this win, Washington has now won five straight road games for the first time since the 2001 season.
always good to see the Flyers lose
Always good to see my man Laich score one for the Caps!
I’m just happy to see the capitals playing solid defense at this time of year. Ovechkin saved a goal with a great backcheck on Gagne in the 3rd period. BB had to love that.