Sunday Smorgasbord 4-26

• The Washington Sports Media has returned to its regularly scheduled All-Redskins-All-The-Time Programming...
• It may be a bit of "what goes around comes around" feeling and there is certainly a "karma is a female dog" air but we take no solace in the Flyers whining about the officiating in Game 1 of their series with Montreal. Let those calls come in Game 7 of that Series and force the Flyers out of the playoffs and generate Barbara Streisand explanations from the NHL (which don't even come close to describing the situation in question on the ice) and then we'll point and laugh. But until then, we suggest that instead of complaining about the officiating that the Flyers figure of why they've now blown two goal leads three times in the playoffs. That won't get you very far, officiating blunders or not.
• What we do find mildly amusing were the true "50-50" crowds that showed up in New Jersey and Boston in the first round of the playoffs this year. The Caps of course were accused of having "split houses" that were really maybe 95-5 at best. We know that the NHL talking heads will never suggest that Boston doesn't support its team and should lose its franchise to some poor deserving Canadian city. But the situation in New Jersey is very troubling. This season the Devils moved into a a brand new arena that is further away from New York City than the old one was and it still got taken over by Ranger fans. So this begs the serious question, does the NHL really need three franchises in the New York area when only two are getting full support?
• One other point we'd like to make about the crowds at the Phone Booth in April is that not only were they all almost exclusively Caps fans, but they were all also very loud, very passionate, and had tons of energy; even in the games that the Caps lost. Why are we noting this, because it was all done without the use of Ice Girls or cheerleaders in the stands. Why are we mentioning this seemingly irrelevant point, well this is actually a Memo to Ted who has stated that he is considering the idea of Ice Girls and cheerleaders to inject energy into the crowds at the Phone Booth. If this run has taught you anything it should be that "win and they will come."
• For the first time since opening night, we delved into a crowd of 35,188 who watched the Nats get shutout by the Cubs last night. We noticed that the Ben's Chili Bowl stand has been expanded since opening night but we also noticed that for the second time in the two regular season games we've attended that we had to wait outside the entrance to the Navy Yard Metro station because the platform was too crowded. Making matters worse was the rain showers falling at the time as we just stood still waiting for Metro to get its act together and get the trains loaded up and moving again. We've noticed too that after months of discouraging people from driving to the games and taking Metro of the RFK Express Bus, the Nats are now putting all kinds of marketing push behind single game parking pass sales. We could easily tell at the exhibition game against the B.O.'s that we went too that the Navy Yard station would not be able to handle the crowds and we wonder why the Nats and Metro aren't being called on the carpet about this. Further exasperating the problem is the transferring at L'Enfant Plaza where Yellow Line trains are kept to their normal schedule so fans who get out of one packed train have to sardine themselves into another after transferring. This is a situation that needs to be resolved.
• Oh and about the Nats themselves, the bats haven't come alive as everybody thought they would in the new park and with the strength of last year's staff, the bullpen, falling to pieces, is it any wonder that they are failing to live up to expectations?
• In this week's "Diversify or Die" segment, we post this picture of protesters we took on the Catholic University Mall on Wednesday April 16th right before Pope Benedict XVI arrived at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception:
  We'll wryly note just how well that idea has worked for our Anglican/Episcopalian friends...
• Getting back to the Redskins, they certainly broke all molds by taking two receivers and a pass catching tight end in the second round yesterday but today, they took Colt Brennan from Hawaii to be one of the backups to Jason Campbell. What makes this odd is that with the numbers that Brennan put up in college, while he did it at a Non-BCS school, there's no doubt that at some point, he'll "challenge" for Campbell's spot especially if Campbell struggles to return from his knee injury last year. We also want to express our dissatisfaction with a schedule that includes three divisional road games in the first five weeks and a Monday night affair against the Steelers that will make it impossible for us to sell our tickets (Monday night games end waay past our bedtime to begin with, we don't need to be there) and ensure that they don't end up in the hands of Steeler fans.
• Finally, this week, the Nats are off tomorrow but stay home with a two game series with Atlanta on Tuesday and Wednesday and then a four game series against the Pirates starting on Thursday. D.C. United treks out to Colorado for a Sunday game against the Rapids.
• As always, please send all comments, criticisms, corrections, questions, suggestions, and frame shop referrals to "capsnut" over at gmail dot com.

It's "Just Words" Anyway...

You may have noticed that we've been leaving our old friend Larry Brooks alone recently. It isn't because Ol' Lar hasn't been up to his usual tricks of double talk and attempting to stir the pot with his weekly columns. We've been leaving him alone because it's nothing we haven't seen before and we have other things to do with out time. But rest assured folks, we still read Larry Brooks every Sunday so you don't have to.

We will admit though, this past Sunday's installment is tough to ignore by itself and after what happened on Tuesday, we simply cannot ignore the Union Thug Mouthpiece's latest steaming pile of garbage.

To put it simply, after winning the Cup last year and fending off Kevin Lowe, the Anaheim Thug Ducks found themselves in "salary cap jail." It isn't a pretty place to be and was threatening to reek havoc on the Thug Ducks and cause a Florida Marlins like firesale. Rumors of Scott Niedermayer being injured and considering retirement because of it put the Thug Ducks in even more of a bind. Niedermayer carries a $6.75 million cap number, by far the largest on the team, and had another two years left on his contract heading into this season. The Thug Ducks ended up losing Dustin Penner because they didn't have room under the salary cap after picking up Todd Bertuzzi and Mathieu Schneider and wondering just what Neidermayer and Teemu Selanne were going to do. It was Niedermayer and Selanne's "soul searching" that allowed the Thug Ducks to get around this sticky situtation. Selanne was an unrestricted free agent so he could take his time because he wasn't under any contract. Niedermayer however, was under contract and as the precedent set under the Alexi Yashin dispute with Ottawa set, he owed the Thug Ducks another two years of service.

So is Larry really in a snit over a distinguished player like Niedermayer being forced to attend a training camp that he is contractually required to? Or is the Union Thug Mouthpiece still upset over the implementation of a salary of a cap? We know he's still angry over the salary cap because we all know that star players like Niedermayer can longer get huge paydays under a salary cap system. But this isn't about Niedermayer wanting more $$$$$, this is about Brian Burke needing more cap space. The CBA was well drawn up to prevent cheating and circumvention of it.

But what makes this a true Larry Brooks classic is what Bob McKenzie reported on Tuesday. McKenzie disputes a major point in Larry's temper tantrum but drops bombshells that Larry couldn't have possibly missed when doing the reporting for this story:

[T]he league, in concert with the NHL Players' Association, is apparently negotiating to ensure that some or all of Niedermayer's fine doesn't actually have to be paid...But sources say that while the league and PA are discussing how to temper or eliminate the penalty to Niedermayer, the rule will remain in place and be enforced to the letter of the law from now on.

In other words, the NHL is trying to get around a CBA it shutdown the league for an entire year for in favor of one club, but not for others.

Is anybody really surprised by this?

Furthermore, how could Larry Brooks have not already known this himself? He alludes to Anaheim helping Niedermayer get away with this stunt but nothing about the league office itself. It is something that makes what he wrote Sunday impossible because while the league is "forcing" Anaheim to fine Niedermayer, they're working with Anaheim to have the fine undone. If you want an example of unprofessional journalism in professional publication, this is it. Bob McKenzie made Larry Brooks look like a rank amatuer blogger like Rumor Boy.

And in true NHL fashion, the stars get different treatment than everybody else because the NHL will look to ignore the precedent establishing situation and hold everybody else to the standards laid out in the CBA. We have never seen this by the NHL before have we?

THEY are so consumed with the fine print over on Sixth Avenue that the NHL misses the larger picture.

Oh if that that were only so true...

And you wonder why we're souring on this league...

Game 7 Caps vs. Flyers 4-22-2008 Wrap Up

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post: tripped, done for now, history repeated, arrival. Times: now its over, coming attraction, operational pause, confidence builder, fast healing, in the crowd, to do list.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

The Other Side:

Philadelphia Daily News: happy ride home, odds defied, power player, dream realized, next task. Philadelphia Inquirer: advancing, gut check, excited, big win, big test. Flyers.com.

Final Thoughts:

While we've never been one to subscribe to the "two wrong make a right" theory, you Philadelphia fans in a snit over the Caps fans trashing the ice after last night's hose job better understand that Scott Hartnell was openly taunting the Caps fans after the game was over. Your franchise certainly did not grab the moral high ground with that one. And if you think my complaining about last night's officiating was out of line, tomorrow morning's post will do nothing but reinforce why the NHL is nothing but a joke of a professional sports league.

Finally, in the coming days and weeks, we'll wrap things up for this season and issue our player and organizational grades for this past season including the playoffs. And speaking of the playoffs, we still don't care and won't be following them very closely from here on out.

89 played, the next 82 to be announced in July.

Game 7 Caps vs. Flyers 4-22-2008 Post-Mortem

We're not going to bother with the usual breakdown of tonight's game because the Flyers did not win the game and the Caps certainly did not lose it. It seems rather unfair for us to praise those who did well and question those who did not because this game tonight was handed, gift wrapped, on a silver platter to a Philadelphia Flyers team that did not earn it and the Washington Capitals deserved a better fate than what befell them tonight.

To begin with our deconstruction of referee Paul Devorski, we look at his checkered past, especially in the playoffs, and openly question why he is still allowed to officiate in the NHL and is given plum assignments such as Playoff Game 7's.

You may not remember, but Paul Devorski was the referee who botched the situation in Detroit 12 years ago and did not eject a player, Darren McCarty, who should have been ejected for his attack on Claude Lemiuex. Devorski even concurs that he blew this situation and to add insult to injury, McCarty scored the game winning goal in overtime of that game.

Paul Devorski was also the referee on April 24th, 2005 who botched the Too Many Men on the ice call against the Caps in Game 6 of our Series against the Ning. The rules at the time stated that a team whistled for Too Many Men in the last two minutes of regulation play or at any point in overtime shall be penalized not with a bench minor, but with the awarding of a Penalty Shot to the other team. This rule has since been changed and now only applies to certain Delay of Game Penalties but five years ago, Devorski once again botched a call and improperly gave the Ning a Power Play that they scored on to win the game and the series.

Seeing a pattern yet?

About three weeks ago now, we were treated to the arcane interpretation of the goaltender interference rule that states, in summary, if an attacking player pushes a defending player into the goaltender in such a manner that prevents the goaltender from making a save and a goal is scored. The goal is to be disallowed because of goaltender interference but no penalty is to be called if the contact was incidental. We even noted that night that you could wipe out a significant portion of goals scored in the NHL with that rule. Tonight we had a textbook example of such an interference, but the goal for the Flyers in the second period was allowed to stand. We noticed that after that incident, the Flyers were driving our defensemen into the goal crease in an attempt to take advantage of this again on just about every rush they had.

As for Don Koharski, he's well known for being a problem referee. There's a reason why Jim Schoenfeld attacked him in New Jersey. The fact that he's still around is as troubling as Chris Rooney being allowed to work the postseason.

And the sad part is, we actually respect their decision tonight to let the players decide the game in the third period of a tied Game 7. We thought that was only appropriate which is why we're livid beyond all reason at the decision to whistle Tom Poti for a ticky-tack tripping call five minutes into overtime. We've said before and we'll say again that we don't often get upset about what is called on the Caps but what isn't called on our opponents and for the life of us we cannot understand why Scottie Upshall was never penalized for his constant instigating all night long. Hooks, holds, trips, cross checks, elbows, and other penalties on the Flyers were ignored all night long. Again we respect the idea of letting the players decide it but you have to call things evenly no matter what. There was no sense of balance on any of the calls and non-calls made tonight.

Five years ago, Dave Jackson made a blunder as bad as Paul Devorski did tonight that cost the Caps a goal against and Jackson did not work another game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jackson improperly whistled Olie Kolzig for a double minor high sticking penalty when he hit Vincent Lecavlier on the follow through of a clearing attempt. While the NHL's attempts at accountability for their officials is laudable, it often comes a day late and a dollar short. What does it matter to the Washington Capitals and Washington Capitals fans that Devorski won't get to work another playoff game this year? The damage has already been done, the Caps season is over and we'll read stories about how the Caps still can't close out a playoff series. We'll read about how we have better days ahead of us and really shouldn't have been in this position in the first place. When we should be hearing the Caps braintrust, lead by Ted Leonsis, George McPhee, and Bruce Boudreau screaming bloody murder about what transpired tonight instead of wringing their hands, saying "well, it was a penalty and tough break for us," and taking any complaints they may have quietly through official channels where we'll get a mealy mouthed apology and nothing will change.

And the worst part about all of this is that the Flyers and their neanderthal fans will go on believing that they earned this and of course are the dominate team when nothing could be further from the truth.

Finally it is stuff like this that really turns us off to this league. We're sick and tired of the best league in the world being plagued by officiating that is nowhere near the level of play on the ice. Right now we could care less about the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for this year because as far as we're concerned, they've been tainted. And if Paul Devorski works another game this spring, the NHL, which has little credibility to begin with, would should show that this is nothing more than a mere suggestion than what it is purported to be.

Game 6 Caps @ Flyers 4-21-2008 Wrap Up/ Game 7 Caps vs. Flyers 4-22-2008 Preview

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post: coming home, new old world, another shot. Times: firmer footing, senseless, patience pays off, experience. Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

The Other Side:

Philadelphia Daily News: back from the dead, as advertised. Philadelphia Inquirer: blown, planted, busted, returned. Flyers.com.

Final Thoughts:

If blowing a two goal lead isn't bad enough, the Flyers had to travel to D.C. last night and sleep on this game in a hotel room. If you think that doesn't mean anything you've got another thing coming.

3 down, 1 to go.


Series C: Washington Capitals (46-42; 94 points; 1st Southeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 12th Overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (45-43; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 11th Overall):
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game #7, Caps Game #7, Home Game #4, NHL Game #137

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 7:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM. Philadelphia TV: Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. Radio: WWIP 610-AM. U.S. National TV: Versus. Canadian National TV: TSN. NHL Center Ice: None.

Tonight, a different kind of pressure awaits the Caps. The Caps have staved off elimination twice now and tonight they now have a chance to eliminate the Flyers from the Playoffs and move onto Round 2 themselves. They say the fourth win of the series is the toughest to get. The Caps have shown the Flyers just how hard it is, now it is the Caps turn to learn just how hard it is to eliminate somebody from the Playoffs.

What The Natives Are Saying:

Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

Open Source Intelligence:


Didn't you read the links yesterday? The Flyers played "their Game 7" last night...

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

The Caps are just 1-4 All-Time in Game 7. To give you an idea of just how anything can (and often does) happen we'll tell you about the one time the Caps did win a Game 7. It was at home in 1988 against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Caps fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the series to earn a Game 7 on home ice at the old Cap Centre in Landover. The Caps went down in Game 7 3-0. They fought all the way back and took a 4-3 lead only to see the Flyers tie the game up late in regulation to force overtime. You've seen how that overtime period ended ad nausem so far so we won't post the You Tube clip that everybody else has the past couple of weeks (which only recently has surfaced). But what you probably don't remember/know is that Mike Gartner hit the goal post after unleashing his patented slapshot off the win before Hunter got in on the breakaway. What's going to happen tonight? You're going to see two teams with nothing to lose play like they have nothing to lose. Tonight somebodies season is going to end. The Caps are correct in that they haven't won anything yet and the win to close out the series is the hardest one to get. It doesn't matter if it is on your home ice or not. It doesn't matter if you have all the momentum in the world behind you going into the game. It does not matter that you are the younger team in the series and you slept in your own bed last night. It does not matter what the starting goaltender of the other team has done on the second of back-to-back games this season. This is just one game to decide the whole thing. The Caps can score first tonight but if they don't stay out of the Penalty Box, they'll give the Flyers a chance to get back into the game and possibly win it. Should the Caps lose tonight, nobody will remember the comeback last night and in the series just to force the Game 7. They'll just pat the Caps nicely on their heads and send them on their way.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 3
Flyers 2
Winner by Semin

Game 6 Caps @ Flyers 4-21-2008 Post-Mortem

Paging Mr. Hunter. Paging Mr. Dale Hunter... Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• You Everybody knew it was coming, A.O. got loose on a breakaway and it was all over after that.
• However, A.O. wouldn't have had a chance to break free tonight if Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom had not provided the secondary scoring the Caps need in order to win. The Flyers have made it clear that they are not going to let A.O. beat them which is why it is so important that the Semin and Backstrom have gotten going. Quite simply, it's "Pick Your Poison."
• Shaone Morrrissonnn laying people out again. Still think this guy is soft?
• The Caps posted double digits in shots in every period and outshot the Flyers 40-35. In the third period, the Flyers got only 8 shots on goal. A better third period lock down performance.

THE BAD:

• Giving up 35 shots on goal and the first two goals of the game. That's not a recipe for winning in the playoffs and the Caps were lucky to get away with it tonight.
• The Penalty Killers finished off 2 for 5 but got off to a rocky start giving up both Flyers goals on their first two chances. The Caps were lucky to get away with this too in a series where the first team to score had won every game before tonight.

THE UGLY:

• Tonight's John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles Bonehead Play of the Game goes to its namesake again tonight as the slow-footed, dim-witted defenseman was badly out of position on the first penalty kill and looked rather lost as a wide open Mike Richards hit a wide open net for the game's first goal. In a MUST win game where scoring first was very important, this was a huge gaffe.
• Yet another too-many-men penalty on the Caps in Philadelphia. Couldn't they have gone to a silent count? (Though the deafening roar of the crowd in the third period did throw the home team off too.) Even worse was the seven penalties the Caps took and the :50 5-on-3 the Caps allowed. They were lucky to get away with this too.

We have not been impressed with Biron at all in this series. It was no surprise to us that the Caps scored two goals off of the rush and got another off a rebound from a goaltender who has been fighting the puck for most of the series. We will admit that this is a devastating loss for the Flyers on many different levels. However, they still have a chance to recover and comeback tomorrow night and win this series. But you should hear these Flyer fans calling into their radio Post-Game show tonight. These great fans who always support their team win or lose have already turned on Coach John Stevens calling for his head, calling this the worst collapse they've ever seen, and questioning the leadership of the team. It isn't over yet folks and this roller coaster ride has a few more climbs and drops to get through before we glide back into the station sometime tomorrow night.

Game 6 Caps @ Flyers 4-21-2008 Preview

Series C: Washington Capitals (45-43; 94 points; 1st Southeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 12th Overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (44-44; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 11th Overall):
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game #6, Caps Game #6, Road Game #3, NHL Game #136

Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA, 7:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM. Philadelphia TV: Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. Radio: WWIP 610-AM. Canadian National TV: TSN. NHL Center Ice: Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia feed.

Tonight the Caps face another MUST win game to keep their season alive. This time it is on the road in Philadelphia where they were swept in two games last week.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

Open Source Intelligence:

Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia Inquirer: mental games, fast healing.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

Win or lose, after tonight's game the Caps will come home from Philadelphia and they'll sleep in their own beds tonight. The Flyers however will come to the arena with their bags packed for a road trip. They too want to go to their homes after tonight's game and sleep in their own beds. The Flyers do want to take their bags, get on the train, head to D.C., and sleep in a hotel room tonight. That's why the Flyers are treating tonight's Game 6 like it is Game 7. We happened to think this is a mistake because should the Flyers lose Game 6; they'll be mentally checked out of the actual Game 7, especially since a Game 7 would take place tomorrow night. So far in this series, the team to score the first goal has won the game. So the big key for tonight is scoring the first goal, if the Caps want to force a Game 7 tomorrow night, they MUST score the first goal. The Caps have some momentum on their side and are gaining confidence. The Flyers have to figure out what they are going to do without Mike Knuble and this could be the difference maker in the series because if John Stevens' adjustments don't work out tonight; the Flyers will be in dire straights. The Caps would also be well served to stay out of the penalty box. While they did a better job of that in Game 5, it was the Flyers Power Play that got them going in the second period on Saturday. The Flyers will be pumped up playing in front of their home crowd (those great and passionate hockey fans haven't sold out their arena yet for tonight's game, pairs of tickets are still available as we are writing this) and should be open to counter attacks early on in the game.

Caps Nut Offical Prediction:

Caps 3
Flyers 5
Winner by Richards

Game 5 Caps vs. Flyers 4-18-2008 Wrap Up

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post: hanging on, not ready to exit, injury to insult. Times: turned back, double trouble, relieved, getting physical, nail biters. Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page

The Other Side:

Philadelphia Inquirer: bruising loss, no return trip, history lesson, injuries mounting. Flyers.com.

Final Thoughts:

Funny isn't it how that Scumbag Dani Briere noted the Caps whining about the officiating and "doesn't want to blame the refs" along with Flyers Head Coach John Stevens noting that "the squeaky wheel gets the oil" but both seem rather upset over the Scottie Upshall Goaltender Interference call that was as bogus as the Viktor Kozlov Goaltender Interference calls in Game 4. They also say nothing about the phantom hold called on Sergei (#3) Fedorov which allowed them back into the game yesterday and the unprecedented review of the tape that allowed the refs to put time back onto the game clock and force Federov back into the penalty box. Furthermore, Dani had the biggest temper tantrum on the ice of all the Flyers (who had quite a few) yesterday. When both teams are playing a rough and tumble style and make no bones about their desire to crash the net; the officials cannot help but to be on the lookout for those kinds of calls. Our only wish is that they would look for more closely for the moving picks which is a staple of the Flyers offensive system. Those are penalties too.

2 down, 2 to go.

Game 5 Caps vs. Flyers 4-19-2008 Post-Mortem

Darn it, I can't donate blood again until June 14th... Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• Sergei (#3) Fedorov had his best game since coming to the Caps at the deadline. What made it all the more enjoyable is that he was clearly targeted by the Flyers for physical abuse today and despite his advanced age, it didn't deter him.
• How much did the Caps want to win this game? Shaone Morrrissonnn was clearing people from the side of the net and Steve Eminger was throwing nice open ice hits. Those who think this is a soft team and soft blueline need to think again. They're showing they can get the job done when they need to.
• Alexander Semin continued his strong series again today (which of course means he's going to be taking a game or two off soon) and Nicklas Backstrom is benefiting from a reduced role. Both players had Power Play goals today as the Power Play was 2 for 6 but is starting to look dangerous again. Just in time.
• Another point about the Power Play today, is that it staked the Caps to the lead and it was on the first Power Play chance they got in the game. The Caps needed to get out to a lead and needed to make the Flyers pay for taking penalties. Something they haven't done enough of in this series as today was the first time in this series we did not trail at any point during the game.
• The Caps outshot the Flyers 12-4 in the first period and dominated the Flyers for the first half of the game.
• He's now gone four games without a goal and didn't register a point today, but A.O. was a factor in today's game getting six shots on goal and officially being credited with 3 hits. A.O. was hitting everything just about everything in sight and as long as the other players who can score goals, score goals, he doesn't need to as the Flyers continue to focus their defense on him.

THE BAD:

• 26 shots on goal but 24 shots blocked and 15 missing everything. A good bit of it is the Flyers standing three of their own players in front on Biron (so he can't blow the series for them) but the Caps need better shot selection.
• Soft, soft goal allowed by Cristobal "WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE" Huet in the third period after Semin had put the Caps up 3-1. Maybe he was cold because he didn't much work in the first two periods but he has to remain sharp throughout the game.

THE UGLY:

• We watched our recording of the game and still can't figure out what Federov held in the second period to get the penalty called on him to give the Flyers a 5-on-3.
• When protecting a lead and closing out a game, most teams suffocate their opponents. They give them nothing and grind out the clock. The Caps today however allowed the Flyers 21 shots on goal in the third period alone...
• Did you really think we would forget? Today's John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles Bonehead Play of the Game Award goes to its namesake for his running across the ice to protect Semin in the early first period scrum. While we understand his desire to protect a valuable player, did the slow-footed, dim-witted defenseman think he would not take a penalty himself by the way he charged into the pile? We also note that it is the fastest we've ever seen Erskine Bowles move.

Well the Caps live to fight another day. We're a little concerned that while Biron looked to be fighting the puck again in the third period after Semin scored that UA allowed a soft goal and the Flyers as a whole didn't seem to be rattled by the Caps dominating large portions of this game and winning today. The Flyers seemed almost content to let the Caps win this game so they could close it out on home ice in front of their home fans on Monday night. Well, careful what you wish for because while the Flyers still have their confidence intact, the Caps are gaining confidence and now have some momentum on their side heading up I-95.

Game 5 Caps vs. Flyers 4-19-2008 Preview

Series C: Washington Capitals (44-43; 94 points; 1st Southeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 12th Overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (44-43; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 11th Overall):
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game #5, Caps Game #5, Home Game #3, NHL Game #135

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 1:08 pm. Washington TV: None. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM. Philadelphia TV: None. Radio: WWIP 610-AM. U.S. National TV: NBC. Canadian National TV: TSN, RDS (French). NHL Center Ice: None.

Today the Caps add another new experience to their growing resume, the playoff pressure of do-or-die. The margin for error is gone and the Caps MUST win today's game.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times: not dead yet, no fun, youth will be served. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

Open Source Intelligence:

Philadelphia Daily News: living in the past, standing tall. Philadelphia Inquirer: trying to finish, earning praise. Flyers.com.

What Do We Expect Today?:

Rarely, if ever, do the teams and people that talk about comebacks ever actually author a comeback. The talk of and comparisons to 1988 started immediately after Game 4 and people were asking "Who will be this year's Dale Hunter?" when the proper question is "Who will be this year's Kevin Hatcher?" Don't know what I'm talking about? Shame on you then because it was Kevin Hatcher who scored the game winning goal on April 12th, 1988 in Game 5 against the Flyers and without Hatcher's goal in Game 5, there is no Dale Hunter moment. 1988's Game 4 was a single overtime lasting just 1:18 and the split in D.C. was Philadelphia winning Game 1 and the Caps winning Game 2. But the worst part of all this premature talk of a Game 7 is that you know the Flyers are well aware of the past. They are well aware that the Caps have done this to the Flyers before even though none of the players on either team from 1988 are still in the NHL. So if the Caps want a Game 6, lettalone a Game 7, they need to focus entirely on Game 5. They MUST score first. They MUST not trail at any point in the game. One week ago we pointed out how despite blowing a two goal lead in the third period, it was only Game 1 and the Flyers would have time to recover from it. We further pointed out that the Flyers would make certain that they wouldn't blow that kind of lead again in this series and they haven't. The Caps MUST stay out of the Penalty Box too. While the Flyers are only 3 for 22 on the Power Play in the series, those three goals have cost the Caps dearly, especially in Game 4.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Flyers 3
Winner by Dowd

Game 4 Caps @ Flyers 4-17-2008 Wrap Up

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post: outlasted, light at the end of the tunnel, experience gained. Times: frustrated, not enough, thrilled, almost unbeatable. Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

The Other Side:

Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia Inquirer: working overtime, an epic, simplified. Flyers.com.

Final Thoughts:

Read the article from our sportswriters today and tell me what the difference is from what the Philadelphia sportswriters were writing one week ago. We told you folks, we've seen these before and while this series is just about lost, the much better days for this franchise lay ahead.

1 down, 3 still needed.

Game 4 Caps @ Flyers 4-17-2008 Post-Mortem

Got 'em right where we want 'em... Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

We work for a living and have to get up early tomorrow so this will be quick:

1. Better effort overall tonight but still not enough. You can see that the Flyers confidence wasn't shaken at all (but the Caps did get the Boo Birds to come out) though if the Caps can find a way to extend this series, you will continue to see their maturity level rising.
2. Cristobal 'WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE" Huet had his best game of the playoffs so far yet came up with a loss. Such is life.
3. Alexander Semin continues to show what an enigma he is even when he's playing well. He's been the best forward for the Caps so far in the playoffs yet he finally scored his first goal tonight. He also took an absolute beating but missed maybe one shift. You have to be impressed with his play but at the same time wonder why he doesn't do this more consistently. Some thought he could and would be intimidated by the Flyers but he hasn't been.
4. The Power Play showed some needed improvement and could be heading into another hot streak. We'll need it if we're going to get out of this jam.
5. More than anything else that went on, yielding a goal one minute in tonight did us in. As well as UA played tonight, we need him to play like that for the entire game.
6. Once again, too many penalties. It's one thing to take a couple of penalties to "establish" yourself and push back against your opponent, but two Too Many Men on the ice penalties in one playoff game is inexcusable.

Well, the Caps once again have no margin for error which they've been used to. If they want to advance to Second Round, they'll have to win three straight games which they've done before. However, they have to win those three games in four nights. We can't remember the last time that happened.

Game 4 Caps @ Flyers 4-17-2008 Preview

Series C: Washington Capitals (44-42; 94 points; 1st Southeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 12th Overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (43-43; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 11th Overall):
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game #4, Caps Game #4, Road Game #2, NHL Game #134

Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA. 7:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM. Philadelphia TV: Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. Radio: WWIP 610-AM. U.S. National TV: Versus. Canadian National TV: TSN. NHL Center Ice: None.

Tonight the Caps look to regain their footing in the series, forge another tie in the series, and regain home ice advantage before coming home when they meet the Flyers in Game 4 in Philadelphia.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times: out of whack, prospering, be ugly. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

Open Source Intelligence:

Philadelphia Daily News: not sitting down, heavy heart. Philadelphia Inquirer: relieved, solution searching, scared. Flyers.com.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

There's no denying the simple fact that the Flyers have all of the momentum in the series right now. So if the Caps want to get back into this series and tie things up, they have to do something to turn the momentum in their favor. At bare minimum, they should try to not go down by two goals in tonight's game as they have done in the first three games. Additionally, Cristobal "WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE" Huet should come up with the monster save he hasn't been making in the first period. Maybe Alexander Semin can plant another clean open ice hit that drops a Scumbag like Dani Briere or any other Flyer for that matter dead in their tracks. Maybe A.O. can light the world on fire again with another one of his patented four goal, five point nights. But most of all, the key for the Caps is to answer the bell. The Flyers know that they are in total control of this series right now and will be looking for the quick knockout tonight on home ice. The Caps have to find the counter punch and get the first goal of the game tonight and keep going. And if the Caps stop blowing Power Plays in the first few minutes of the game, it will go a long way to accomplishing that goal. Otherwise, we'll see another so close, but so far away performance and result.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Flyers 4
Winner by Prospal

Game 3 Caps @ Flyers 4-15-2008 Wrap Up

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post: another loss, Plan B, punched out. Times: early deficit, setting them up, line shuffle. Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

The Other Side:

Philadelphia Daily News: earning her paycheck, crashing the net. Philadelphia Inquirer: having fun, emotional, not repeating itself, sense of humor. Flyers.com.

Final Thoughts:

Putting Olie Kolzig in net isn't such a bad idea if for no other reason than to put an end to the crease running the Flyers have been doing in this series. We all remember Kolzig slamming a Sabre in Game 3 of the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. Though none of that will matter if Bruce Boudreau can't get the first line on track and we think he might have to place A.O. with Sergei (#3) Fedorov and Alexander Semin to accomplish that. Yep, that's putting all of our eggs into one basket but with all the attention that A.O. is drawing (combined with his willingness to go to the front of the net), Semin being the one forward consistently looking for his shot through the first three games, and Federov's playmaking ability; we're hard pressed to find another answer to the Caps woes offensively right now though we are open to other suggestions.

1 down, still looking for 3 more.

Game 3 Caps @ Flyers 4-15-2008 Post-Mortem

It's not over yet, but it's close... Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• It took almost three periods, but the Caps did finally start get consistent traffic in front of Martin Biron who continues to underwhelm. The problem was that the Flyers were standing in front of the cage too blocking 25 shots.
• We're starting to see signs of life from Viktor Kozlov who showed more willingness to get himself dirty tonight than he has in the first two games. Though we've put out a missing persons report for Nicklas Backstrom who has almost totally disappeared.

THE BAD:

• We were still waaay too loose in the first period tonight. Waaay too many clearing attempts that were soft dumps that were easily picked off. Waaay too many attempts to carry the puck up the ice which were poke checked away at our blueline. Waaay too many attempts to carry the puck over the Flyers' blueline that were stripped and shut down throughout the game.
• 1 for 7 tonight as the Power Play remains cold and even worse, the Penalty Killers had to kill off 6 penalties tonight. Not enough discipline and even though we didn't see it here in the D.C. area because of technical difficulties, could somebody please tell us what Mike "BEAM ME UP" Green was doing fighting Scottie Upshall :17 into the third period???
• Is there some clause somewhere that requires Scott Hartnell and that Scumbag Dani Briere to run Cristobal "WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE" Huet at least once a game? While I'm not one for Ultimate Fighting on Ice, why hasn't Matt Kent Cooke and Matt "Omar" Bradley returned the favor on Biron?

THE UGLY:

• Tonight's John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles Bonehead Play of the Game goes to Milan Jurcina for his ugly turnover right in front of UA which gave Sami Kapanen an easy goal and the Flyers a 3-1 lead late in the first period.
• The Caps continue to get outshot in this series, tonight it was by a 33-19 score.

Well folks, we hate to say "We told you so" (yeah right...) but "we told you so." Back when we were first harboring dreams of making the playoffs, the Caps were laying eggs like this against teams that we knew (or at thought) would make the playoffs, we asked if you really wanted to see this? We asked if there really was a point? That's not to say that there aren't some good things that have happened and are happening right now. The town has rallied around this team better than it did 10 years ago and our young players are gaining valuable NHL Playoff experience this year. We happen to think that a large reason for our struggles right now comes from our young defense and young guns up front who are getting their first taste of NHL Playoff hockey and, while certainly better than they were last year, still need some polish to their games. We said last year when this team was struggling that you can see where it was heading and even as they struggle now in the playoffs, you still can see where they're heading. The better days for this franchise are still to come.

Game 3 Caps @ Flyers 4-15-2008 Preview

Series C: Washington Capitals (44-42; 94 points; 1st Southeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 12th Overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (43-43; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 11th Overall):
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game #3, Caps Game #3, Road Game #1, NHL Game #133

Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA. 7:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM. Philadelphia TV: Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. Radio: WWIP 610-AM. U.S. National TV: Versus. Canadian National TV: TSN. NHL Center Ice: None.

Tonight the Caps look to rebound after being shutout at home on Sunday and regain the lead the series with the Flyers. The Caps won both regular season games in Philadelphia this year in overtime.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post: repairs made, to do list. Times: revival, down and dirty, giving a response. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

Open Source Intelligence:

Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia Inquirer: handling the load, prior history, apology delivered, return tonight? Flyers.com.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

It didn't take long for the nattering nabobs of negativism to start crowing again. Sure, you could argue that the Caps have only played as hard as they need to play in the playoffs for only one out of the six period played so far but the series is tied at one game apiece. Philadelphia felt they played a perfect game on Sunday and they only won 2-0. Folks, we didn't want to say anything but these articles from Philadelphia that we've been reading for the past four days we've read before in our lives. We've read them in our own papers during our own ill-fated playoff runs in the past when we've been vainly trying to beat teams with more talent than us. Does this mean that the Caps are going to win this series? Not necessarily, but it does tell me that we're on the right track. Tonight the series shifts to that great sports town of Philadelphia where they are so into the Flyers right now they hadn't sold out tonight's game as of this morning as pairs of tickets in the lower level are still available. So if you have a few extra hours on your hands Caps fans, help out Philadelphia brethren out and give them a sellout for tonight. We happen to think that in some ways, the pressure is off the Caps now as they are playing on the road and don't have to keep their emotions in check from feeding off the energy and frenzy of the home crowd that bothers to show up. The Caps had another "mental health day" yesterday and have always responded well after being shutout. The only fear we have is that despite fighting the puck for most of Games 1 and 2 that Martin Biron gains confidence and his play improves. The Caps don't have to score first, but the earlier they do get to Biron, the better off they'll be.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 3
Flyers 2
Winner by Backstrom.

Game 2 Caps vs. Flyers 4-13-2008 Wrap Up

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post: blanked, blanketed, born. Times: beaten, bruised, broken, blown. Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

The Other Side:

Philadelphia Daily News: adjustments, back to earth. Philadelphia Inquirer: evened up, now the hero, more adjustments, fired up. Flyers.com.

Final Thoughts:

If Bruce Boudreau is concerned about the amount large amounts of icetime that A.O. is getting, then he has nobody to blame but himself. It isn't A.O. who keeps the first Power Play unit on the ice for at least the first 1:30 of a Power Play.

1 down, 3 still to go.

Game 2 Caps vs. Flyers 4-13-2008 Post-Mortem

You didn't think it was going to be easy did you??? Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• Cristobal "WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE" Huet was fantastic today despite giving up two goals and taking the loss with 39 saves. It was some disinterested backchecking more than anything else that did him in today. How he did not earn one of the stars today is beyond me.
• The Penalty Killing was the lone bright spot. Despite some close calls, the unit went 5 for 5 today and kept a dangerous Power Play unit from putting the game out of reach.

THE BAD:

• The Caps were outshot in every period today except for the first period, when they gave up two goals on odd man rushes. Getting outshot 18-8 in the third period when you're trying to mount a comeback rarely, if ever, works.
• The first line of Viktor Kozlov, Nicklas Backstrom, and A.O. were a -2 each and combined for seven shots on goal, 5 by A.O. alone. Though Kozlov has once again gone MIA.

THE UGLY:

• The John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles Bonehead Play of the Game does not go to its namesake as the slow-footed, dim-witted defenseman got beat on the Flyers first goal (it was a play that showed you just how slow he is) but to Mike "BEAM ME UP" Green for his ill-timed and ill-advised interference penalty in the third period that ended all hopes of a comeback with a special mention of Washington's favorite Boston based Referee, Chris Rooney, for making a call that was ignored all game long until it was called on Green with 3:09 left in the game.
• The Power Play showed why it is a "Special" Team today. Going 0 for 6.

First of all, let's give credit where credit it due, the Flyers picked up their game today and the Capitals simply didn't match it. The Caps were maybe too loose with A.O. interviewing Mike Green and telling NBC yesterday that the Flyers need to key on Mr. Donald Brashear to shutdown the Caps offense as the Caps were just off all day long. The Caps also didn't hit the Flyers defensemen very much on the forecheck mostly because the Philadelphia Defensmen were moving the puck a lot quicker today than they were on Friday. The good news that despite pitching a shutout, Martin Biron had another shaky game as the Caps rang posts, missed wide open nets, and kept shooting the puck straight into him after he dropped to his knees. Philadelphia cannot be all that confident in him as he continues to fight the puck early on in the game. You knew the 8 game winning streak was going to come to an end and yep, unlike last week the Caps can afford to lose a game now. But they need to step it up if they want to avoid losing any more games.

Game 2 Caps vs. Flyers 4-13-2008 Preview

Series C: Washington Capitals (44-41; 94 points; 1st Southeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 12th Overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (42-43; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 11th Overall):
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game #2, Caps Game #2, Home Game #2, NHL Game #132

Verizon Center, Washington D.C., 2:08 pm. Washington TV: None. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM. Philadelphia TV: None. Radio: WWIP 610-AM. U.S. National TV: NBC. Canadian National TV: TSN, RIS (French). NHL Center Ice: None.

Today the Caps look to open up a 2-0 lead in the Series with the Flyers after Friday night's thrilling come from behind win win.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times: nervous energy, prophecy fulfilled, possible return. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire. NHL.com Series Page. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page. AP article.

Open Source Intelligence:

Philadelphia Inquirer: pick your poison, execute better.

What Do I Expect Today?:

Now that the nerves are out of the way and the Caps are all now savvy playoff vets (Jeff "Sergeant" Schultz excluded) will we finally see the series everybody has been expecting to see? Well, maybe not so much because the Caps are still in uncharted territory. It is good to see that they outwardly recognize that they haven't won anything yet despite the fans carrying on like it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Friday night. You also have to expect the referees to call another close game today in order to keep things in check. What everybody missed was the slashing penalty called 1:14 into Game 1. The Refs did a good job of clamping down on the game without restricting the flow of the game, though the players deserve a fair amount credit themselves for playing a hard hitting but clean game. The NHL Front Office wants this series as a showcase for A.O. and will cringe if it turns into a scene from Slap Shot so the referees are on notice. Both teams are complaining about not playing a full 60 minutes on Friday and the pressure is already being turned up on Martin Biron after one loss. The first goal today is going to be huge again because should the Flyers get another lead, they are going to do everything they can to prevent a repeat of Friday night. If the Caps get out to the lead again, the Flyers are really going to tighten up and could start to panic.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 4
Flyers 2
Winner by Bradley

Game 1 Caps vs. Flyers 4-11-2008 Wrap Up

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post: comeback win, two of three return, too loud, LaCantreporta returns. Times: comeback win, playoff nerves, low blow, sixth attacker, bottom up. Examiner Editorial Cartoon (missed this one yesterday). Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

The Other Side:

Philadelphia Daily News: superhero, pimping Dani, Mr. Brightside. Philadelphia Inquirer: pain in the rear, turning on the goaltender, coaching nerves. Flyers.com.

Final Thoughts:

If this had been any other game in the series other than Game 1, this would have been a demoralizing loss for the Flyers because they blew a two goal lead in the third period. However, they have plenty of time to recover though their margin of error is rather slim. Furthermore, considering that A.O. admitted to being nervous for most of the game last night, imagine how much harder it will be for Philadelphia to contain him now that's he's settled in and has a playoff game under his belt?

1 down, 3 to go.

Game 1 Caps vs. Flyers 4-11-2008 Post-Mortem

I had forgotten how much fun these could be... Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• We told you that secondary scoring would be key and we would like to know what the odds in Las Vegas were on Mr. Donald Brashear and David "Bolt Cutter" Steckel scoring the first two goals for the Caps in the Playoffs. Mr. Brashear's goal was huge because it was the first goal of the game and allowed the Caps to settle in.
• Who also expected the Caps to be the aggressors with the physical play in the first period? It looked to us as if the Caps were the ones trying to intimidate their opponent.
• We were also surprised by the lack of fisticuffs tonight. You can see hatred returning but the first period seemed more like the first period of a season opener than a playoff opener with both teams feeling each other out and trying to get their legs under them.
• Mike "BEAM ME UP" Green didn't get caught up in the moment single handedly tying the game up in the third period.
• As Dan Patrick used to say "You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him" and where would the Caps be without A.O.? There were parts of the game were he seemed to float around the edges instead of going to the net but when he made a break for it in the third period, it was all he needed to get his first goal and first game winning goal in the playoffs.
• After getting the lead back in the third period, the Caps didn't allow another shot on goal to the Flyers. As a matter of fact, the Flyers had only three shots on goal for the entire third period.

THE BAD:

• What were Tom Poti and Steve Eminger doing at the end of the Power Play with Dani Briere in the Penalty Box? They got caught up in the moment and made a pretty huge mistake letting Dani get free for her first goal.
• Martin Biron was fighting the puck tonight and didn't seem very comfortable in his first playoff start. The Caps had the right idea getting what turned out to be 27 shots on goal, the Flyers greatly helped him out with 18 blocked shots. Early on in the game it seemed as if the Caps had more shots blocked than on goal.
• Cristobal "WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE" Huet did not have a good game tonight giving up four goals.

THE UGLY:

• The fourth line giveth, the fourth line taketh away as they collectively share the John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles Bonehead Play of the Game Award for their lackadaisical effort which lead to a 3-on-2 for the Flyers which lead to the Flyers go-ahead goal. We're not sure if it was Mr. Brashear or Matt "Omar" Bradley who botched the outlet pass from Shaone Morrrissonnn; but none of the forwards made any kind of effort to get back on the odd man rush going the other way.
• The Caps allowed 13 shots on goal in the second period. They allowed just 9 for the rest of the game. The Caps got too far away from their game in the second period.
• To us it looked as if Patrick Thoresen took the Green slapshot in the man region. If that's the case, we tip our hat to the guy who is spending the night in the hospital. Sure, he plays for the other team but the Brotherhood does not like to see its members take blows like that in the man region.

In the playoffs you will take any win that you can get. It's nice to see the Caps bailing out UA and keeping the current streak alive while ending the five game home playoff losing streak. But the important thing to note is that we haven't won anything yet. We still need three more wins to get past the Flyers and if we play many more periods like we did the Second Period tonight, we won't win two more games. But if you're the Flyers you have to wonder why you couldn't lock down a two goal lead heading into the third period on the road. That's the even bigger cause for concern.

Game 1 Caps vs. Flyers 4-11-2008 Preview

Series C: Washington Capitals (43-41; 94 points; 1st Southeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference, 12th Overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (42-42; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference, 11th Overall):
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game #1, Caps Game #1, Home Game #1, NHL Game #131

Verizon Center, Washington, DC, 7:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM, 1300-AM. Philadelphia TV: Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. Radio: WWIP 610-AM. U.S. National TV: Versus. Canadian National TV: TSN, RIS (French). NHL Center Ice: None.

Tonight the talking ends and the playoff begins for the Caps who are back in the postseason for the first time in five years looking for their first playoff series win in ten years. The Caps and Flyers split the season series with the road team winning all four games, however these two teams have not met since the trade deadline. The Flyers won seven of their last nine games to make it into the playoffs this year after missing them last year.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times: Ulitmate Fighting on Ice, a day in the life, superstar overnight, series preview. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire. AP Wire #1. AP Wire #2. TSN.ca Series Page. ESPN NHL Playoffs page.

Open Source Intelligence:

Philadelphia Daily News: riding on the goaltender, demoted, you can only hope to contain him. Philadelphia Inquirer: big problem, having a seat, in a frenzy, under the radar.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

With the excitement that has been building since last Saturday night, the Caps tonight are likely to come out on total fire, especially with the energy that is going to be in the Phone Booth tonight. The Caps will have to guard against coming out too pumped up because that can be just as bad as coming out flat. The Flyers on the other hand will be looking to slow things down which is why they're likely to resort to their intimidation/fighting tactics. Though they may not get a chance as the NHL Front Office has seen five days of predictions/anticipation of blood, guts, and gore and have very likely informed tonight's officiating crew to call a very close game. That too will disrupt the Caps and the building's energy tonight while also possibly putting the Caps behind the eight-ball because of Philadelphia's prolific Power Play unit. The key tonight is getting the first goal of the game. Whoever can jump out to a lead tonight can settle into their game quicker and relieve some of the pressure that has been building up all week. For the Caps specifically, they need to remain disciplined. Without discipline, this will be a very short series for them.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 3
Flyers 2
Winner by Kozlov