Flyers Fall To Caps

In a game with playoff implications and a playoff atmosphere, the Flyers lost a thriller to the Washington Capitals by a final of 5-4. The Flyers battled back from a 3-0 deficit and eventually took the lead late in the 3rd period before falling to the Caps in the shootout.

It looked like the Flyers were going to get blown out after falling behind early. Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky didn't play well, giving up a cheap goal that squeaked by him midway through the first. Bobrovsky gave up another goal late in the first off of Mike Knuble who aggressively crashed the net. In Bobrovsky's defense, Flyers defender Sean O'Donell was late getting back and he allowed Knuble to skate right past him and at the net.

The Caps continued to pour it on in the second when they scored on the power play off another goal that again "squeaked" by Bobrovsky. After the goal, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette pulled Bobrovsky and veteran Brian Boucher entered the game. Down by 3, the Flyers easily could have packed it in and given up. But this team is resilient, and they played hard despite the 3 goal deficit. Versteeg made it a 3-1 game after he sent a puck into traffic that deflected off a Caps defender and eventually found the back of the net. After the Versteeg goal, the Flyers had a lot of momentum and brought a lot of pressure. The Flyers upped the intensity and it eventually paid off when Claude Giroux banged home a one-timer to make it a 3-2 game.

In the third, the Flyers continued to play strong hockey. Boucher looked strong in net, and guys like Briere, Giroux and Nodl continued to create opportunities. With 10 minutes left in the third, Andreas Nodl scored off of a turnover to tie the game at 3. Nodl was in the right place at the right time and he burried a wrist shot to knot things up at 3. But the Flyers weren't satisfied with simply evening the score. With 5:45 left, Danny Briere redirected a slap shot in the back of the net to give the Flyers the lead. The goal came right off a face off, and it looked like the Flyers were going to be able to hang on to win it. But with 3:19 left, Caps center Marcus Johansson banged home a one-timer to tie the game at 4. For the third game in a row, the Flyers headed to over time.

Danny Briere and Jeff Carter created a lot of scoring opportunities for the Flyers in the extra session. Villie Leino also played well offensively for the Flyers. Boucher came up with some big saves to help out defensively. Unfortunately neither team was able to score and for the third game in a row, the Flyers needed a shootout to settle things. Leino and Briere were able to score but Giroux got tripped up. The Flyers would eventually lose in the shootout as Boucher was unable to get a stop.

Although the Flyers lost, they did pick up a point and still have a 1 point lead over the Capitals in the Eastern conference. And although it may seem like the Flyers are getting stuck in a string of very close losses, they are playing hard and are continuing to pick up very much needed points. The Flyers are playing hard and scratching and clawing their way to the finish line.

Looking ahead, the Flyers will travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday to take on the Penguins in what should be another great game.