Playoff Game #3 Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers

Where: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA

When: April 15, 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: 10-8
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

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:
The Capitals took it on the chin in Game 2 and look to rebound in Game 3. The Flyers outworked, outshot, and outplayed the Caps on Sunday. The Caps looked tired and frustrated and will need to figure out how to get back into their system as the Flyers are using the clog the neutral zone defense. The Caps had won 8 straight games prior to Sunday’s loss, but luckily for them it’s a seven game series and hopefully this will come as a wakeup call. The defense is playing well but the team is going to need help from the third and fourth lines as it did in Game 1. Look for a more balanced attack in Game 3 and more commitment to the system. The Caps need to get back to what got them there in the first place.

Joe’s Prediction: Caps 3 PHI 2

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