The Capitals are in control of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
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Neuvirth proved this year that his play is that of a starting goaltender of a potential playoff team.
The series swings back to the nation’s capital for Game 5 Friday (7 p.m./CSN) at the Verizon Center. “We did”, Neuvirth said. “Just to see that one go in really early was nice”.
“Well, we have more momentum than after Game 3”. Mason’s Game 2 gaffe that allowed Jason Chimera’s 101-foot tip-in goal has been replayed on an endless blooper reel in Philly. With 18:20 remaining in the third period.
This time they weren’t so fortunate.
The only powerplay of the period resulted in the Philadelphia’s first powerplay goal of the series, and the first for star rookie Shayne Gostisbehere.
“If we wouldn’t be here, I don’t think he would have any problems getting in the collective and talking with the boys and anything like this”, Voracek said earlier this season. “But at the same time, in the playoffs, I think you’ve got to put forth a 60-minute effort, and going into the next game, that will probably be our main focus”. The Caps weren’t exactly generating many quality chances in front of former teammate Michal Neuvirth – tabbed to take over in Game 4 for Steve Mason.
Washington outshot Philadelphia 32-25, including 12-4 in the third period.
It took twenty-one shots on Neuvirth before the Capitals could penetrate the solid keeper, going to within one on their second shot of the third period. But it was too little, too late despite the late surge. “The biggest thing was, even when he wasn’t playing all year, he was giving it to you in practice, making sure you’re burying those rebounds, competing, out there ready to go”. Full credit to them. Carlson pushed Laughton into the boards (and there wasn’t anything dirty about the play) behind the net, an area he didn’t get up from for minutes.
In all honesty it didn’t look that bad of a hit; maybe because Philadelphia Flyers Scott Laughton lost his edge. The Flyer was in on the forecheck when defenseman John Carlson went to hit him just as Laughton turned his body.
Laughton lay in an awkward position behind the goal and there was little noticeable movement.
He was “taken to Jefferson Hospital as a precaution”, as per the Official Flyers Twitter.
One of Philadelphia’s top young players, Laughton, 21, had appeared in 71 games this season and returned to the lineup when center Sean Couturier sustained a shoulder injury in Game 1 that knocked him out of the series. “You never want to see it happen”. “I feel good today, the usual”. I haven’t heard anything. “And I thought we did a good job”.
However, forward Wayne Simmonds said the expectation was Laughton would be released from hospital Thursday. After one period, they led the Flyers in high-danger scoring chances by a count of 10-1 (15-8 in all scoring chances) per War on Ice.
There he stood in the corner of the Flyers’ locker room. Yes, the Caps have blown five series when ahead 3-1 in franchise history.
The Capitals still have never swept a best-of-seven playoff series. There’s no panic – yet. “It was a good game for us”. “It’s playoffs”, Oshie said. Again, they stayed penalty free while fending off waves of Capital attacks until the sweet end. “We’ve gotten a lot of bounces and they weren’t really going our way”.
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The Minnesota Wild held the lead twice in the game, and both times Dallas came back.
