Greetings from the press level of the Verizon Center. Got here a little late tonight, so I won't be providing the usual pre-game links. Kris Herrell will be behind the lens tonight, but we're short a photo processor tonight, so don't look for any pics before the end of the night.
One new wrinkle tonight: The Comcast SportsNet broadcast team of Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin aren't in the broadcast booth tonight, as they'll be doing tonight's call from center ice between the home and visiting benches. I'll be sure to check it out on the rebroadcast when I get home tonight.
One item: The Flyers acquired defenseman Alexi Zhitnik from the Islanders earlier today in exchange for defenseman Freddy Meyer and a conditional draft pick. Looks like the Flyers get some more mobility on their blue line, while the Islanders get a little younger and get to shed some payroll. For more, check out Islanders Army.
More in a bit.
STARTING LINEUPS: FLYERS: G: Nittymaki; D: Hatcher, Zhitnik; W: Knuble, Gagne; C: Forsberg. CAPS: G: Kolzig; D: Morrisonn, Pothier; W: Ovechkin, Clark; C: Zubrus. SCRATCHES: FLYERS: Kapanen and Printz. CAPS: Heward, Bradley and Zednik. That's right, Peter Forsberg is back in the Flyers lineup.
Puck is about to drop. Back later.
ZUBRUS SCORES!: Here's Dainius Zubrus putting the puck past Nittymaki in the final minute of the first period:
Photo by Kris Herrell
The post-goal celebration.
Photo by Kris Herrell
Recap and more pics after the jump.
END FIRST PERIOD: CAPS 1 FLYERS 1: Philly opened the scoring on a nifty give and go between Peter Forsberg and Mike Knuble. After passing the puck to Forsberg on the left wing, Knuble got the puck right back from his centerman and wristed the puck past Kolzig for the 1-0 lead.
Caps got that goal back at 19:23, when Dainius Zubrus took advantage of a scrum in front of the Philly net, and banged home a loose puck to tie the game 1-1. Semin and Ovechkin picked up assists on the play.
Other items of note: John Erskine limped off the ice after dropping to the ice to block a slap shot. He has yet to return. Boyd Gordon continues to impress, as he created another scoring chance at 4:30, once again through his hard work on the forecheck.
END SECOND PERIOD: CAPS 3 FLYERS 1: The second period quickly turned into the Alexander Semin show as the Caps took the look and took control of the game.
At 3:52, Brian Pothier found Semin at center ice. After gathering up the puck, he skated down right wing and turned the corner on the Philly defenseman. Running out of room, he skated behind the Philly net and tucked the puck inside the net for a 2-1 Washington lead.
Photo by Kris Herrell
Later at 8:57, Zubrus found Ovechkin open on the left wing with a cross ice pass inside of Philly's defensive zone. Ovechkin shot the puck on net, where Semin deflected it past Nittymaki to make it 3-1 Washington.
Photo by Kris Herrell
FINAL: CAPS 4 FLYERS 1: Alex Ovechkin got his 22nd goal of the season at 3:16 of the period. He collected a pass from Bryan Muir at center ice and skated down the left wing boards. Ovechkin took the puck in all alone, carried the puck into the slot and wristed it past defenseman Jussi Timonen and Nittymaki to make it 4-1.
The puck as it passes Nittymaki:
Photo by Kris Herrell
Post-game celebration:
Photo by Kris Herrell
Attendance 15,021. Caps outshot Philly 31-22.
More later.
