Caps Will Not Surrender
The first 10 minutes of last night's game were meant to set the tone for the entire game.
Both teams felt this way.
Prior to puck drop, the emphasis was on the fact that this was a Game 7 and that whoever could get out to the lead first would have the best shot at winning the game.
This has been proven throughout the series.
Since Game 1, whoever scored first would go onto win the game. Although both teams have battled through each game, whoever got the first goal, in the end, has claimed victory.
Through the first 10 minutes of Game 6, it appeared that the Flyers were on their way to sealing a date for the second round.
But, as they Flyers jumped out to a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes on goals by Mike Richards and Danny Briere, the Caps refused to give up.
Richards got a freebie when the puck snapped off the back boards behind Huet and bounced right onto his stick. He had a wide open net and made sure to put it in as he rifled it home. According the pre game sentiments, that should have been the game right there.
The Philly faithful erupted as the Caps stared up at a 1-0 early game deficit.
The worst thing was that it only got worse as the first period wore on.
Danny Briere continued his playoff dominance, getting the Flyers out to a 2-0 lead with only a few minutes left in the 1st. Briere was left all alone in the slot with the puck and scored on a sweet snap shot that picked the top corner perfectly. Briere has racked up 10 points in this series, including 6 goals and has been a nightmare for Washington's defensemen.
The Caps went back to the room for the first intermission, down 2-0 with only 40 minutes to go.
I don't know what was said, but as the Caps emerged from the tunnel for the second, you could tell that their confidence and focus had not been swayed and that they were not ready to give up on their season just yet.
Boudreau's encouraging words payed dividends as they Caps mounted a comeback.
Nick Backstrom got it started as he and Alexander Semin played a game of give and go in the Flyers zone. They tossed the puck back and forth to each other a couple times before Backs found a hole in Biron's armor and got the Caps to within one. It was a gorgeous play and you could really tell that Backstrom and Semin were playing comfortable and effective hockey together.
That got the ball rolling for the Caps and they did not stop there.
Although the Flyers continued to play a strong physical game, especially Mike Richards' shadowing of Alex Ovechkin, the Caps were beginning to get their feet moving and were starting to move the puck the way they like.
Soon enough this resulted in another tally for the Caps. Sneaking through Philly's D-men, Alexander Semin, the Caps leading goal scorer this series, was left all alone to pluck a bobbling puck away from Martin Biron and, much in the same manner that AO outwaited Biron for his Game 1 winner, Semin went wide - away from a sprawling Biron - and roofed the puck into the open net.
This was the straw the broke the camel's back.
The Capitals bench exploded and the Orange Wave had been silenced.
The Caps completely reversed their 1st period play and won the 2nd period, giving themselves a brand new game and the momentum for the 3rd period.
And they made sure to use that momentum to their advantage.
Philly never stopped throwing their weight around against the Caps and it may have been that focus on physicality which allowed the Capitals to catch the Flyers off guard.
The third period began tensely, yet the Caps were clearly continuing along on their second period pace and finally were rewarded when Tom Poti found Alex Ovechkin with a breakaway pass.
Creating a turnover and cutting to the middle of the ice, Ovechkin pulled away from the Flyers defense and was sprung on a full out breakaway. AO stormed in on Biron and faked him into going down, leaving the entire top corner open. Ovechkin made no mistake and snapped it into the top right corner, immediately flying to his bench to celebrate with his teammates.
Alot has been made of the Flyers' ability to contain Ovechkin, yet the very few times they have not been able to contain him, have cost the Flyers a total of 2 games. And after having stolen away home ice advantage from the Caps in Game 2, it was AO who was able to steal it back for the Caps in Game 6.
Alex even added some insurance as 'blazin' hot Brooks Laich found him at the top of the circle for a one timer. Ovechkin made no mistake, obliterating the puck past Biron and adding some much needed insurance in the Capitals remarkable comeback win.
Huet played a strong game and after suffering a shakey start to the game, settled into his net and stopped the Flyers when he needed to, even getting a little help from his posts when he needed it most.
SEA OF RED Ready To Will Caps into 2nd Round
With their amazing Game 6 comeback win, the 'Cardiac Kids' have allowed themselves to regan control of their destiny.
The Home Ice Advantage gained by winning the South East division is now the Capitals reward for winning Game 6.
The Caps now have all the confidence the need. And the momentum too.
At the beginning of this series the Caps were being beaten in all areas of the rink. Yet, as the physical Flyers have battled on, their own physicality may be taking a toll on their own team.
In the last 2 games, the Capitals have figured out a way to draw the Flyers into playing overly phyiscal and commiting too many pinches. A strategy that has brought the Caps back into a situation where they feel comfortable.
The physical play is taking a toll on the Caps as well, but Washington is finding those loopholes in the Flyers systems that are letting them play their game. Speed and puck movement.
The Caps have won the last 2 as a result of their perseverance and now get to reward their fans with at least one more home game.
No matter what happens tonight, this team has had an incredible season. They have returned to competitive form and have served notice to the rest of the league that the next few years will be diffibult for anyone who is going to come up against these Capitals.
Niceties aside, Washington must use this advantage to blow the Flyers away.
They have stolen the Flyers confidence in the last 2 games and will have their fans on their side. Comfortable at home, the Caps are still running on the adrenaline of last night's game.
The Flyers, on the other hand, will need to dig a little deeper to get back to their game.
Game 7
Lineups will be much the same for both squads.
Tom Poti and Mike Green were a little banged up after yesterday's game, but will be good and ready to go come puckdrop tonight at the Verizon Center.
The Flyers used Riley Cote in place of the injured Mike Knuble yesterday and I have to wonder if they will use him again? There are other options and John Stevens may indeed switch things around in an attempt to curb this 2 game losing streak.
For Bruce Boudreau and his boys, it will simply be a matter of getting themselves grounded enough in time for the start of the game.
The emotions and intensity are running very high for the Capitals right now. All positive, yet it will be key to use their adrenaline in a productive manner.
The key to this game will be Ovechkin.
Yesterday proved that Alex cannot be held off the score sheet for too long and that it was only a matter of time before he would prove himself to be the difference.
There is no player on either team that can match his talent and energy.
With his adrenaline going and with his team following suit, the Caps are going to be ready to fly tonight.
Caps Notes
Huet and Biron will both start again. (Obviously)
Mike Green has stepped up his physical play. That was an incredible hit and defensive play on Sami Kapanen. Kappy flew into the air, doing a cartwheel while almost clipping Jim Down with his skates. This is just another point that Mike is proving. For those who question his size and toughness, he is answering the bell.
How about my X-factor Steve Eminger? He has been a god-send to the Caps blueline this post season. He has stepped in after seeing very limited ice throughout the regular season and has played incredibly. His assist and plus 3 yesterday are proof to anyone who is watching that he can be a very effective defender. He even has a good hockey sense, decent hands and a good shot!!! Look for Em to continue his stellar supporting role to Green, ShaMo and Poti.
Backstrom and Semin have overcome their initial playoff jitters and have been lights out. These two have been the offensive force that has allowed the Caps to stay in it while the Flyers try to block Ovechkin out like he is the sun.
Finally, Sergei Fedorov and Brooks Laich. Feds incredible leadership has kept these kids grounded and he has literally served as an on ice coach. He has contributed defensively, offensively, on both special teams and in the faceoff circles. Athough he is a littel fatigued from playing so many minutes, Fedorov is loving every minute and his body language and play are showing it. Laich is just becoming an incredible grinder that can score. He has broken out of his shell and has been that much needed grit on the 2nd line. His hard work has helped free up Backstrom and Semin, allowing them to be the Caps driving offensive force.
Another fun little note: Every team that has won Game 1 of the opening round, this post season, has gone on to win their series.
Huet Takes Center Stage
– The old joke is that you could change the name of hockey to goalie because that is the most important position. For the last two games, that joke is more true than humorous for the Washington Capitals. Cristobal Huet has been spectacular in goal for Washington, providing numerous highlight saves as the Caps have clawed their way back from a two-game deficit to even their best-of-seven series with Philadelphia at three games apiece. Huet has allowed only four goals (one at even strength) in the last two games and has a .940 save percentage in those games as well.
Seventh heaven
– The Capitals are playing their first Game 7 since 1995 and their first Game 7 at home since 1992. Washington is 1-4 in Game 7s all-time, with the lone win coming 20 years ago against the Flyers, a 5-4 victory thanks to Dale Hunter's overtime goal.
Washington Capitals Game 7s
1995 ECQF at Pittsburgh L, 3-0
1992 PDSF vs. Pittsburgh L, 3-1
1988 PDF vs. New Jersey L, 3-2
1988 PDSF vs. Philadelphia W, 5-4 OT
1987 PDSF vs. NY Islanders L, 3-2 4OT
More heaven
– Since the NHL adopted seven-game playoff series in 1939, 121 series have gone to seven games. The home team has prevailed in 77, or 64%, of those Game 7s.
Comeback kids
– Washington, the first NHL team to make the playoffs after standing 14th or 15th in the conference at midseason, is attempting to become the 21st team (in 223 occurrences, entering this year) to come back from a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series. The Capitals are in a position to come back thanks to a pair of come-from-behind wins in which they trailed by two goals (Games 1 and 6).
Matt Cooke and Sergei Fedorov have both been part of teams that have come back from 3-1 deficits. Head coach Bruce Boudreau has led a team back from a 3-1 deficit once before, in the 1999 ECHL finals, when his Mississippi team defeated Richmond in seven games.
Three for three
– Alex Ovechkin has three goals in the series, including two in the last game. All three of his goals came in the third period. He has helped the Capitals outscore Philadelphia, 7-4, in the third.
Survival kit
– Tonight is the fourth time in 18 days that they Capitals will have faced elimination; they have won the previous three. In the first, April 5 against Florida, a loss would have cost Washington its spot in the playoffs, but it came away with a 3-1 win. Saturday the Capitals won for just the second time in seven tries in franchise history when trailing in a seven-game series, 3-1. Monday they erased a 2-0 deficit to stretch the series to seven games.
Young guns
– Players 24 years old or younger have combined to score 89% of Washington's goals (16 of 18) and 76% of Washington's points (38 of 50) in the playoffs. The team's top five scorers are all 24 or younger.
This is it.
It all comes down to this incredibly tense Game 7. The Caps have battled their way back from a 3-1 series deficit and now have the chance to close out the Flyers at home in Game 7.
Momentum, Confidence and Adrenaline.
The Caps have 'em all, but they will need the focus and speed from yesterday to make sure they send the Flyers for their late April tee times.
The SEA OF RED
Must be the 7th man tonight. The Caps have earned all the support we can give them. Caps fans must will their team to victory!
The Flyers cannot be counted out. They are on the ropes, but have all the ingredients needed to show up the Caps. Washington will need their entire arsenal tonight to secure themselves a second round date with the Penguins.
We will find out how all of this unravels starting at 7:00 pm.
Nervous much?
ROCK THE RED
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Go Caps!!!!!
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