The Flyers remember exactly what won them game 2 in Washington; an early lead and continued tenacity. The orange and black got both in a 6-3 victory in game 3. A crowd of rabid orange fans set the tone for the game that would un-even the series after the Flyers tied the best-of-seven match on Sunday. Players for both teams and hockey analysts alike were impressed with the packed house at the Verizon Center in games 1 and 2 in Washington D.C. last weekend and as we’ve come to expect from Philly fans, they were just as impressive.

All four first period goals came in the final 3:50 of the stanza. First was a beautiful pass and even nicer goal from Vinny Prospal to Danny Briere who put the puck just over Huet’s left shoulder. Eric Fehr evened the score not too long after at 17:21. At times this season a goal like that would have taken the wind out of the Flyers’ sails; but not tonight. The Fly Guys returned the favor less than a minute later with a Scott Hartnell slapshot at 18:26 from, once again, Vinny Prospal. A mere 13 seconds later Sami Kapanen stole the puck in the offensive zone and went high on Huet to score the go ahead goal to put the Flyers up 3-1.

In the second period there were two goals. Mike Green scored at 7:28 on the power play for Washington as they were able to convert on only one of their seven man advantages. Danny Briere answered that power play goal with nine seconds left from a great pass from Mike Richards from the point. Kimmo Timonen left the game in the second period when he was shoved into the Capitals net. It looked like on his way to the ice his arm may have hit the in-goal camera, as he was clearly holding his arm close to his body. Timonen went to get x-rays for an “upper body injury” and did not return.

The third period featured excitement that this city hasn’t seen in a long while; and they did it without their best defenseman.  Brooks Laich scored on a goal that was questionable at best with just over five minutes in the game. Replays clearly showed that he re-directed the Shaone Morrisonn offering from the point with his stick above the crossbar. Somehow upon further review the officials thought it was a goal and the play stood as called. A couple minutes later at 17:01 Mike Richards came in on a breakaway and was upended which qualified a penalty shot for the alternate captain (that may have been the only call the Flyers got in game 3 in their favor). Richards juked Huet to his knees and neatly stuck the puck in between his legs to re-gain the two-goal lead. Mike Knuble who missed two open net opportunities earlier in the game put it away as he added an empty-netter at 18:55 of the third.

The Flyers dominated in shots 33-19, and the Capitals are really lucky that it was only a three goal game. Cristobal Huet was clearly the Best player for Washington. Ovechkin was, once again, held off the goal column of the score sheet. No matter what line or defensive pairing had the heavy task of defending Ovie, they blocked off passing lanes and not only effectively shut down the MVP candidate but took care of his line-mates as well.

The goaltending for the Flyers was good enough. Marty Biron certainly didn’t repeat the performance he gave Sunday night, pitching a shutout, but he did make the big saves when the Flyers absolutely had to have it.  He got shaken up taking a puck up high in what appeared to be the neck area, but stayed in the game. The physicality followed these teams to Philadelphia as there were many scrums after the whistle and hard hits. Scottie Upshall also got under the skin of Mike Green to the point where he got him to drop the gloves and Upshall got the best shot in before the officials broke it up. The momentum was in the Flyers favor heading into game 3 and they maintain it going into game 4. Another 60-minute effort by the orange and black has Philadelphia in a playoff frenzy.

Dave’s 3 Stars of the Game

1. Danny Briere - 2 goals 1 assist
2. Mike Richards - 1 goal 1 assist
3. Vaclav Prospal - 3 assists

Photos courtesy of flyers.nhl.com

With the announcement today of the NFL 2008 Schedule and the highly anticipated draft April 26 and 27 from New York, football will soon be upon us. Here is how the Birds 2008 campaign looks;

Week 1 - Sunday, Sept. 7         vs. 1pm FOX

Week 2 - Monday, Sept 15       @   8:30pm ESPN

Week 3 - Sunday, Sept. 21       vs.  4:15  CBS

Week 4 - Sunday, Sept. 28       @   8:15 NBC

Week 5 - Sunday, Oct. 5          vs.  1pm FOX

Week 6 - Sunday, Oct. 12        @   4:15pm FOX

Week 7 - BYE WEEK

Week 8 - Sunday, Oct. 26        vs.  1pm FOX

Week 9 - Sunday, Nov. 2           @  4:15pm FOX

Week 10 - Sunday, Nov. 9        vs.  8:15pm NBC

Week 11 - Sunday, Nov. 16       @  1pm FOX

Week 12 - Sunday, Nov. 23       @ 1pm FOX

Week 13 - Thursday, Nov. 27  vs.  8:15pm NFLN

Week 14 - Sunday, Dec. 7        @  1pm FOX

Week 15 - Monday, Dec. 15     vs. 8:30pm ESPN

Week 16 - Sunday, Dec. 21      @   1pm FOX

Week 17 - Sunday, Dec. 28   vs. 1pm FOX

More analysis of the schedule as well as the rest of the NFL coming up this week.