Where: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
When: April 17, 2008, 7:00 PM
History:
Regular Season All-Time vs. PHI: 64-92-19-0
Regular Season All-Time Road Record vs. PHI: 28-55-6-0
Playoff Series Record vs. PHI: 2-1
Playoff Game Record vs. PHI: 10-9
Last Playoff Series vs. PHI: 1999: WAS 2W PHI 4W
This Year:
WAS Record: 43-31-8
Standings Points: 94
Division Rank: 1st
Conference Rank: 3rd
PHI Record: 42-29-11
Standings Points: 95
Division Rank: 4th
Conference Rank: 6th
2007-08 Regular Season
Game 1: 11/2/07, WAS 2 PHI 3
Game 2: 11/23/07, WAS 4 PHI 3
Game 3: 1/13/08, WAS 4 PHI 6
Game 4: 2/6/08, WAS 4 PHI 3
2007-2008 Playoff Series
Game 1: 4/11/08, WAS 5 PHI 4
Game 2: 4/13/08, WAS 0 PHI 2
Game 3: 4/15/08, WAS 3 PHI 6
Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 KOZLOV
Forward Line 2: 24 COOKE, 91 FEDOROV, 28 SEMIN
Forward Line 3: 14 FEHR, 39 STECKEL, 21 LAICH
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 23 JURCINA, 3 POTI
Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 44 EMINGER
Goalie: 33 HUET
Back-up Goalie: 37 KOLZIG
Philadelphia
Forward Line 1: 40 PROSPAL, 18 RICHARDS, 22 KNUBLE
Forward Line 2: 19 HARTNELL, 48 BRIERE, 15 LUPUL
Forward Line 3: 20 UMBERGER, 17 CARTER, 9 UPSHALL
Forward Line 4: 32 COTE, 34 DOWD, 24 KAPANEN
Defense Pair 1: 21 SMITH, 26 MODRY
Defense Pair 2: 5 COBURN, 44 TIMONEN
Defense Pair 3: 6 JONES, 2 HATCHER
Goalie: 43 BIRON
Back-up Goalie: 30 NIITTYMAKI
Injuries:
Washington – 17 CLARK (groin) DTD, 92 NYLANDER (shoulder) IR, 2 POTHIER (head) IR, SCHULTZ (upper body) DTD
Philadelphia – 12 GAGNE (concussion) IR, 3 RATHJE (hip/back) IR
Preview:
Game 4 is another must win for the Capitals, well not exactly an elimination game, but it will be a mighty hill to climb if they don’t. If they do win, the series is even - with three games remaining. The Capitals have not played a complete game thus far in the series. There are a couple of glaring areas that need addressing. They need to find a way to get more rubber on the Flyer net. In the first three games in the series the Caps have taken 70 shots on goal, whereas in the final 3 games of the regular season they took 117. I also think they should have Rod Langway come give the defensemen a lesson on clearing out the crease or that Cristobal Huet should do a nice two handed Hextall impersonation on Scotty Upshall. Either way, the team needs to make the Flyers pay for coming into the goalie’s area. This is hockey not a tickling competition! The Caps have been far too lenient with allowing our goalie to be run into. I will be looking for the Capitals to come out hard and play up to their capabilities in Game 4. I believe they are better than the Flyers but the team needs to believe it. If they do then they will beat the Flyers if not better get a tee time.
Joe’s Prediction: Caps 4 PHI 2 & at least one bout for The Donald
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