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