Playoff Game #1 Recap - Capitals 5 Flyers 4

What a game by the Washington Capitals. Alex Ovechkin scores the game-winning goal late in the 3rd period. And who had Donald Brashear scoring the first goal of the series? No, really, you didn't. Just as advertised the game was fast paced and hard hitting. The teams traded goals in the first period. In the second period, the Caps took the lead early on a precise snap shot from David Steckel. The Flyers replied with 3 consecutive goals to take a 4-2 lead into the 2nd intermission. It was looking bleak going into the third when Mike Green, who had not been having a particularly good game, stepped up on the play and took an amazing feed from Sergei Fedorov and buried a shot a minute and fifty seconds into the period. With Daniel Briere in the box for a high sticking penalty, Green fired a slap shot from the point that was blocked by a Philly defender. The Flyer stayed down obviously hurt by the Caps kept the play alive and Green fired another slapper into the net to tie the game. That set the stage for Ovechkin who, with a little over four minutes left, stripped the puck from a Philly defender, held onto the puck until the goalie went down and beat him with a shot to the roof. An unbelievable unassisted goal to put the caps back in the lead. The team then held off the mad Flyer rush and take a 1-0 series lead.

Of Note:

• Along with Alex Ovechkin, John Erskine, Boyd Gordon, Nicklas Backstrom, Brooks Laich, Milan Jucina, Shaone Morrisonn, Alexander Semin, David Steckel, Tomas Fleischmann, Steve Eminger, and Mike Green played their first NHL playoff game. Sergei Fedorov played in his 163rd.
• Ovechkin, and Backstrom had assist on Green's second goal. Semin and Fedorov assisted on Green's first.
• The Caps out shot Philly 27-22 and won the face-off battle 36-26.
• Matt Bradley recorded 2 assists. Tom Poti and John Erskine also recored one assist each.
• The Caps recored 40 hits to the Flyers 36. Ovechkin led the way with 8 hits followed by Bradley with 7.
• It was the third win in the playoffs for Cristobal Huet.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Super Stats