Flyers-Capitals: Philadelphia Falls to Washington, Lose Simon Gagne As Well

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

For a lot of NHL fans, Tuesday night's Flyers/Capitals game was a must watch. The game featured some of the NHL’s best players and was to feature an interesting pre-Olympic matchup with Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger going head-to-head with the Capitals Alex Ovechkin.

In the end, the match did not disappoint. There were plenty of hits, lots of scoring chances, a couple of lead changes, a penalty shot and three power play goals. Unfortunately for the Flyers, they ended up on the short end of the stick and the loss may be enough to bump them from the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference before the month is over.

The Flyers and Caps roared out to a quick start in the first period with both teams combining for 21 shots. Flyers goaltender Ray Emery and Caps counterpart Jose Theodore held their teams in the game, with both teams escaping with a 0-0 tie after one period of play.

The second period brought more of the same, but this time the goalies were not so lucky. The Flyers took advantage of an early power play opportunity when the Caps Brendan Morrison took a hooking penalty at 1:16 of the second period. The Flyers Scott Hartnell took a cross-ice pass at the side of the net and shot the puck past a sliding Jose Theodore for his second goal of the season.

After exchanging power play opportunities, the Flyers finally put another puck past Theodore when Braydon Coburn capitalized on another hooking penalty and, just none seconds into the PP, directed a slap shot on the net that eluded the Caps net minder.

With a 2-0 lead, the Flyers seemingly were control of the game. Then again, no lead is ever safe when Alexander Ovechkin is on the ice, something the Flyers were reminded of when Ovechkin snapped a shot by Ray Emery at 16:08 of the second, a shot that Emery never saw coming.

The Flyers' Mika Pyorala took a late holding penalty at 17:01 of the second. On the ensuing power play the Caps Nik Backstrom beat Emery on a wrist shot from the slot and, just like that, the game was tied 2-2.

Capitals defenseman took a interference penalty at 2:42 of the third period, but the Flyers failed to capitalize. Soon after, at 5:24 of the third, Alexander Semin scored the go-ahead goal, beating Emery with a quick snap shot from just inside the blueline, a shot that Emery should have had.

At 6:47 of the third period the Flyers’ Darroll Powe was awarded a penalty shot after being taken down on a breakaway. Powe tried to go five-hole on Theodore, but Jose was quick to put the paddle down, besting Powe’s attempt to score.

The Flyers made a valiant effort to score the equalizer, throwing 20 shots at the Capitals net in the third period, but were thwarted by some excellent goaltending by Theodore.

Alex Ovechkin put the game away when, to the frustration of the Flyers players, he scored an empty net goal at 19:14 of the third.

In the end, the Capitals vaunted offense was just too much for the Flyers to handle on this night. Ovechkin ended the game with two goals and one assist, for three points, Nik Backstrom had one goal and added three assists, for four points, both players combined for nine shots on goal and each left the game with a plus three rating.

The Flyers did take some good things away from the game. The power play scored two goals and, going head-to-head with Ovechkin, Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger kept Ovi off the scoresheet when they were on the ice together.

Earlier in the day, the Flyers took an even bigger blow when it was announced through a statement from Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren that star forward Simon Gagne would be placed on the IR with a pair of hernia’s in his right groin.

It is not known if Gagne will option to have surgery, but, given his injury history, one might expect Gagne to be on the IR for an extended period of time.

Gagne, who had one goal and four assists through nine games with the Flyers this season, injured his groin at Team Canada’s Olympic Camp in August of this year. If Gagne does require surgery, it would be a huge loss for the Flyers and Team Canada as well.

The Flyers will end October with a match against the Carolina Hurricanes this Saturday, in Philadelphia. The Flyers currently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and will likely have to pull out a win in their final game to stay in the playoff race.

It’s still early, but, to date, the Flyers have been inconsistent and will have to pick up their play if they expect to compete in the highly competitive Eastern Conference.

Until next time,

Peace!