Playoff Game #6 Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers

Where: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA

When: April 21, 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: 11-10
Last Playoff Series vs. PHI: 1999: WAS 2W PHI 4W

This Year:
WAS Record: 43-31-8
Standings Points: 94
Division Rank: 1^st
Conference Rank: 3^rd

PHI Record: 42-29-11
Standings Points: 95
Division Rank: 4^th
Conference Rank: 6^th

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
Game 4: 4/17/08, WAS 3 PHI 4 (2OT)
Game 5: 4/19/08, WAS 3 PHI 2

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, 15 LUPUL
Forward Line 2: 19 HARTNELL, 48 BRIERE, 9 UPSHALL
Forward Line 3: 20 UMBERGER, 17 CARTER, 24 KAPANEN
Forward Line 4: 32 COTE, 34 DOWD, 25 THORESEN
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, 22 KNUBLE (hamstring) DTD

Preview:
The Caps desire to win was underestimated by the Flyers on Saturday. The Caps beat them and now they head back to Philly for Game 6. The Caps must come with the same intensity and be ready for a much better effort from the Flyers. The big question to be answered is when will Alex Ovechkin regain his scoring touch? I mean he’s only averaging 1 point-per-game in the series. I’m sure the Flyers are thinking the same thing and want to win the series before the time-bomb goes off and Ovie starts hitting the twine. Look for this one to be another incredibly physical game and I think the Ovechkin legend will grow with this upcoming performance.

Joe’s Prediction: Caps 5 PHI 3

Official Preview