Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
When: April 13, 2008, 2:00 PM
History:
Regular Season All-Time vs. PHI: 64-92-19-0
Regular Season All-Time Home Record vs. PHI: 36-37-13-0
Playoff Series Record vs. PHI: 2-1
Playoff Game Record vs. PHI: 10-7
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
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: 43 FLEISCHMANN, 39 STECKEL, 21 LAICH
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 55 SCHULTZ, 3 POTI
Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 23 JURCINA
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, 28 KUKKONEN
Goalie: 43 BIRON
Back-up Goalie: 30 NIITTYMAKI
Injuries:
Washington – 17 CLARK (groin) DTD, 92 NYLANDER (shoulder) IR, 2 POTHIER (head) IR
Philadelphia – 21 SMITH (upper body) DTD, 48 BRIERE (knee) DTD, 12 GAGNE (concussion) IR, 3 RATHJE (hip/back) IR, 25 THORESEN (groin) DTD
Preview:
Game 1 was all it was cracked up to be with lots of hits, end to end play, and lots of scoring. The Capitals made a big comeback in the third period to erase a 2-goal deficit and Alex Ovechkin scored the game-winner. Look for the Flyers to clamp down on Ovechkin even more in this one. He was held without a shot for the first two periods but was laying the lumber with 8 recorded hits. The Caps will be getting Jeff Schultz back on defense so either Erskine or Eminger will most likely be sat out. Personally, I think Erskine will sit just on the basis of speed. I also think that Game 2 will be even faster than Game 1. Schultz finished the regular season with a plus-12 rating and is a steadying, defensive defenseman. Look for the Caps to come out extremely strong in the first period as they got their first playoff game jitters out of the way. They will continue to forecheck hard and force the play and look for Cristobal Huet to come up big as the Flyers try to take this one.
Joe’s Prediction: Caps 5 PHI 2
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