A pair of challenges went against the Blues in the third period of their 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2 of their first-round series. “We just have to get off to a good start here in Game 4”.
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“We stick to each other and we manage the puck in the third and we can see, lucky bounce and we get the third [goal]”, Ovechkin said.
The Flyers came out attacking from the opening faceoff after an emotional tribute honoring their late chairman, Ed Snider. Michael Raffl scored just 57 seconds into the game.
But Philadelphia fans showed a rowdy spirit late in the game when they tossed wristbands used as part of a pregame show on the ice as Washington turned this one into a rout.
There is a rather majestic Ed Snider banner hanging on Wells Fargo Center, where Monday night the hockey team he reared for almost 50 years was fighting for its playoff life.
After the Capitals scored on their first power play courtesy of a deflection, Ovechkin beat Mason with his quick shot.
The Flyers PA announcer went so far as to add “you’ve done it now” while announcing the delay of game penalty. “I didn’t even know it happened”.
The Flyers had his initials “EMS” painted on the ice behind each goal, and handed out bright orange T-shirts with Snider’s silhouette imposed over the Flyer crest.
For the first time in franchise history, the Capitals took a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series.
“EMS” – for Edward Malcolm Snider – was painted on the ice behind each net. Hart’s eyes watered and her hands were shaking throughout.
Raffl knocked in the first shot of the game off Brandon Manning’s attempt from the point and 19,678 fans went wild.
They were hoping that a wave of emotion generated from events of the past week would help them get back into their playoff series with powerhouse Washington. Against the Flyers the regular season, he was 2-0-2 with a. 926 save percentage.
Worse than the box score was the lack of class or human decency from the crowd at Wells Fargo Center, who embarrassed themselves all night long.
“You can tell they’re keying on us, ” Gostisbehere said. If he keeps playing like this, that’s a very realistic possibility.
The outcome was sealed when John Carlson scored his third power play goal of the series at 7:37 of the third to put the Caps up 4-1.
Ovechkin scored a goal that Mason should have stopped.
Ovechkin bounced over the boards and snapped a long-distance wrist shot from above the circle past Mason.
In the third, a freaky bounce off the glass in the Flyer end off a Justin Williams shoot-in saw the puck drop into the Philadelphia crease, off the glove of Mason and into the slot. “But you’re right, we block shots, we do everything but just can’t get the puck out and eventually tonight you give up the goals”. Devan Dubnyk made only 14 saves in the win.
“We look forward to getting out there and getting ourselves back in the series”, Mason said.
The Flyers’ man advantage looked its most out of sync in quite sometime.
Although the Caps won the 5v5 scoring battle last night 2-1, that’s only because of a fluke goal in their favor, and another strong outing from the man in net.
“Not too fun”, Giroux said of the debris-littered ice. Suspension coming for Pierre-Edouard Bellemare for this hit on Dmitry Orlov?
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Down the hallway, when the home locker room first opened, the scene was somber. Washington had never led a series 3-0 in 35 best-of-seven playoff series….
