Gameday: Flyers travel to DC to take on Caps
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 1:23 PM EST
in 08-09 Game Threads
74 comments
Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals, Feb 24, 2009 7:00 PM EST
#4 Philadelphia Flyers (31-17-9, 61 pts) at #2 Washington Capitals (38-17-5, 81 pts)
Verizon Center - 7:00 PM EST - Washington DC
TV: CSN Philly HD, CSN Mid Atlantic HD
Radio: 1210 AM WPHT, XM 206
This is the open game thread.
Live Internet Stream
Behind Enemy Lines: Japer's Rink, On Frozen Blog, Capitals Kremlin
I'm not going to sit here and insult your intelligence by saying "this is a big game." That's obvious. When you're in fourth place in the conference, and you're playing a team that's ahead of you in the standings, it's a big game. When that team has the best player in the game on it.... you get the point.
The Flyers travel to DC tonight to take on the Capitals and they'll try to send the home team fans home angry in a place where that doesn't happen too often. Washington holds a 24-5-1 record at home. The Flyers are 2-0-1 in their last three trips to Verizon Center, but they suffered a shootout loss in their only trip there this season.
The Verizon Center has become notorious for bad ice this season, which leads me to believe that, hey, maybe that's part of the reason why they're so good at home. They're road record is an unimpressive 14-12-4, so that kind of lends its hand to the theory as well. Tally that up with the fact that they play a million games against the weak-as-shit Southeast Division, and the big, bad Capitals become a little more human.
I'm not saying the Capitals aren't good. Clearly, they are a dynamic team that has a real shot at winning the Cup. But the media is clearly drawn to this team, thanks to AO's play and Mike Green's record, and the fact that they're so god damn "entertaining." Is that what it is? Because I see they're over-the-top goal celebrations that make it look like they just struck out Eric Hinske to win the World Series as just laughable. Act like you've scored before, ya know?
Anyway, my point is that the Caps aren't the unstoppable force it seems they're made out to be. I'm starting to hate them a bit, which means they must be good, but let's not get scared just yet. The Flyers can handle these guys if they play their game.
After all, Ovechkin does not have one single point against the Flyers this season. The Flyers need to keep him from scoring, keep him frustrated like they did in that 7-1 Flyer win back in December. He was clearly flustered in that game, thanks to some chatter by Mike Richards (who Caps fans think is a whiny diver... check the video/poll in the FanPosts) and unbelievable goaltending by Antero Niittymaki.
Jeff Carter has been bothered by the flu of late, and that could be why he's gone a season-high five games without scoring a goal. He missed practice Monday but will play tonight. The rest of the team has picked him up offensively, though.
Richards received league-wide first star honors this past week for his offensive outburst and the rest of his linemates are producing as well. Simon Gagne is on a four-game point streak while Knuble has scored in three straight. Overall, the Flyers have scored 20 goals in their last four games.
Between the Pipes: Niittymaki gets the nod tonight. He'll try to recreate his 40 save performance against the Caps back in December. He's absolutely unreal against the Southeast Division with a 10-0 record this season.
Jose Theodore is in for the Caps. He's got a 4-1 record with a 2.02 GAA in his last five against the Flyers. He's 4-1-1 in his last five games overall.
Injury Report: Kimmo Timonen will not play tonight. He has the flu and did not travel. Ossi Vaananen will replace him in the lineup, but he probably will not play on the top pairing with Ryan Parent. It's likely Randy Jones will play with Parent, while Vaananen will play with Andrew Alberts.
Other Notes
- The Capitals are a ridiculous 12-1-3 against the Atlantic Division this season.
- Caps center Niklas Backstrom has a six-game point streak going.
- The Flyers have scored shorthanded goals in three straight games.
- The Caps PP is tops in the Eastern Conference and it's converted at a 36.1% rate in its last 11 games. Their PK has been on fire of late as well, killing off 50 of its last 59.
Questions to Answer
- Timonen is usually a big key in keeping the other teams' best players off the board. Does his absence tonight lead to a hole in the Flyers' D when it comes to defending Ovechkin?
- Can the Flyers stop Washington's PP?
- Will Antero Niittymaki have another impressive performance against the Capitals?
- How does Ryan Parent play without Timonen by his side?
- Does Jeff Carter get back on the board?
7 PM. Be here. Go Flyers.
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damn
losing timmonen really hurts our chances tonight.
i’ve watched quite a few caps games this season. they have a real nasty habit of playing sloppy defense, i.e. making horrible outlet passes in their own zone.
hard work with good goaltending (i.e. no soft goals) will win this game. the flyers under mike richards are fully capable of this. we have 3 great lines, and someone on each line has stepped up these past few games.
ill be there tonight screaming my ass off.
World F#$king Champions
losing timmonen hurts. thats like going up against randy moss without your top corner.
nonetheless, fuck the caps. the next 5 games are huge. 4 games against playoff teams (3 of which are road games against teams ahead of us in the standings). The flyers can really assert themselves as strong contenders in the east.
Parent will indeed be with Randy Jones on the top pairing, and they’ll be largely charged with the task of stopping Ovechkin. Why does that make me nervous?
Hopefully tonight shows us just how good Ryan Parent is.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Nice defensive play to start although the loose puck almost went in… that would’ve sucked.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
That didn’t take long.
Can’t let Backstrom get free like that.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Getting completely outworked by these guys right now.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
The one thing about Ovechkin’s line… they’re so quick on the offensive end but they love that tic-tac-toe passing. If you can intercept one of those passes it’s a quick odd man break in the opposite direction like the Flyers just had right there.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Oh WOW what a HIT!
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Hartnell’s gotta stop with that crap. I love his energy but he costs the team too often taking penalties.
But my god, Richards on Poti… we’ll be talking about that one for a while.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Is there any place to watch online?
Even better would be a place to watch it for free…
Try here.. it’s DC announcers but it looks like it’s working well. http://atdhe.net/live-tv-2.php?i=895
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions
oh god do i hate dc announcers. I had to watch one of the playoff games with dc announcers last year. every single time the flyers made a good play they felt the need to explain how it was pure ‘luck’ and had nothing to do with skill or hard work. not only that, they were constantly trashing both the city of philadelphia and flyers fans.
Since Washington is a lovely city and all…
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks man workin great
Better somethin than nothing as far as announcers go eh?
Truth. And you could always try muting it and then playing the NHL.com Flyers audio feed. It’s probably not in sync though.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 8:01 PM EST up reply actions
Hell of a point blank save by Niitty.
Gotta get this kill.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Hope they show a replay of that hit on Upshall. I missed it. Anybody else catch it?
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Oh man a shot to the pills.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 7:35 PM EST up reply actions
I’d call it a spear, in fact.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 7:38 PM EST up reply actions
Richards > Backstrom
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Man we’re lucky they haven’t put one of these home shorthanded.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Whew, we dodged a few bullets… but so did they. How does that not go in… man.
They need to improve on the PP in the second.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
our power play is a mess tonite. this is totally inexcusable. for once were actually getting as many power play opportunitys as the opposition. were going up against a team ranked 20th in PK, and yet their PK has the majority of their scoring chances.
It’s unbelievable how bad our PP is on the road compared to at home. It really is totally inexcusable.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions
Hartnell to the box… again. Killer.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
I wasn’t sure if you were just adding it to the widgets list or actually adding it to the page, so I went and checked if it was there and added it anyways. You guys did a nice job on it, it looks great.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
JJ just said “hartnell out of HIS box” when he jumped out of the penalty box. hahah it might as well be hartnells penalty box
I wonder if he’s on a first name basis with the penalty box officials in visiting arenas.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 8:04 PM EST up reply actions
What a terrible giveaway by Carter.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Real big PP here. Need a goal.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Yeah we do. This team (probably because of the ice) is tough at home.
by Chris Haines on Feb 24, 2009 8:14 PM EST up reply actions
I’m surprised they haven’t taken any serious action on the ice yet. It’s been a controversy for a while down there. And I wonder why it’s so bad. They say it’s because they have so many events in the building, but the Flyers have just as many events with ’Nova bball and the Sixers and everything else, and our ice is just fine.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 8:17 PM EST up reply actions
JP and Ted actually had a blog battle back and forth earlier this year. I didn’t read the whole back and forth, but their fans have noticed too.
by Chris Haines on Feb 24, 2009 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
Even Langway (I think it was him anyway) said playing in Washington curbed his goal scoring, so it could be a regional thing.
by Chris Haines on Feb 24, 2009 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
Hm, that’s interesting. It’s not like it’s much warmer in DC than in Philly or anything, so I doubt it’s a weather thing. Maybe it’s some kind of moisture thing in the building. I know up where I go to school in CT, our rink has terrible ice because there’s a ton of humidity in the building. Maybe there’s something in the air in DC…
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 8:23 PM EST up reply actions
It does get more humid in DC, but you’d think in a modern building, they could curb it better than they do.
by Chris Haines on Feb 24, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
Giroux! And we still get the full two minute power play, great timing!
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
The defense is scrambling. The absence of Timonen really has a lot to do with that, if you ask me.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Oh man Brashear throws the knee at Lupul. And HARTNELL AGAIN is going to the box again for retaliating… getting ridiculous.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
I absolutely love Claude Giroux. His vision is absolutely ridiculous.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Good Theodore showed up tonight.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Hartnell! I take it all back!
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
CARTER! out of the slump!
LEAD!
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
HELL YES!
aaron asham! wow!
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Luck is probably on our side if Asham is scoring
by Chris Haines on Feb 24, 2009 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
WOW
what an onslaught. That stretch of domination was like sex in a lot of ways, with a long stretch of buildup and then finally an ejaculation of goals. Can I say that on national TV? Is this thing on?
Probably about right. It looked for a while there that Theodore was going to be the difference in the game though.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 9:21 PM EST up reply actions
Versus had him and Andy Brickley from the Bruins on a Caps/Bruins game once. Wow, that was bad.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 9:24 PM EST up reply actions
Very big. See, we get breaks every once in a while too.
PS – I think Japer’s Rink is about to implode.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 9:26 PM EST up reply actions
I’m not checking it. Are they pissed? Probably whining about the Flyers.
by Chris Haines on Feb 24, 2009 9:27 PM EST up reply actions
Another penalty on Washington. Big time. 1:17 left.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Can you post an internet link to watch the game every time?
I don’t get CSN
It’s tough to find one that works for each game, but I can do my best. Check in the top of the gameday post each time and they should be there.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions
I’ll do my best to help you out, no problems at all.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 24, 2009 9:49 PM EST up reply actions
Great 3rd period.
Great job by the Orange and Black today, especially in the 3rd against a very good Washington team.
Trav, it’s picking up in here with each successive game. I like it.
Classy of them to have their top PPers out there at the end, eh?
That’s a quote from over at Japer’s Rink. Seriously? It was a two goal game. Far from over, why would we not keep them out there? Besides, it’s the NHL. If you can’t take the heat, don’t stand in front of the fire. I recall Washington whining about that in the 7-1 game too. It’s such a ridiculous notion.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
I was at the game tonight…had a Phils jersey on. One Caps fan said “you guys didn’t even make it to the World Series!” My buddy had a Dawkins jersey on…a Caps fan saw it and said “Put in McNabb!” It’s safe to say they were confused tonight.
by Benjamin.Zeidler on Feb 24, 2009 10:16 PM EST reply actions
Interesting quote from the capitals blog. They are talking about all the penalties on the Caps.
Blockquoted paragraph The groin shot should have been diving. Brashear’s tripping call looked sketchy also Looked like he was trying to hit the guy, missed and the guy fell. Same with the roughing call on theo, Hartnell dove into the guy, was he supposed to magically not fall on him?
Its always interesting to see how the other fans view some of the calls. I disagree with almost all of this posters opinions.
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