Playoff Game #7 Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: April 22, 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: 12-10
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
Game 6: 4/21/08, WAS 4 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 forced Game 7 with their 4-2 victory last night. Alex Ovechkin lit up the net in the third period with two goals and the Caps scratched back from a 2-goal deficit to score 4 straight goals. Both teams will be tired but the Caps need to take advantage of the momentum of the win last night and get on the Flyers early. Look for the team to continuing to get the puck in deep and take advantage of the size and speed advantage because the Flyers have been vulnerable in this area. They also need to keep out of the penalty box. Both Flyers goals last game came on the power play. The team will be pumped and the fans will be going crazy and I think this will be the best performance by the Caps in the series.

Joe’s Prediction: Caps 4 PHI 1