Flyers Take Control

    Daniel Briere and the Flyers took a 2-1 lead over the Caps in Philadelphia today. The score of 6-3 is not indicative whatsoever of this game- the Flyers had to work for every inch. Led by Briere's 2 goals and an assist, Philly gets the upper hand in the series in a game with drama at every turn.
    Where to begin? I think Cristobal Huet needs a hug. Not from me, I'm laughing at him. But someone should- he was abused and pushed and hit and pounded from every angle. Although spectacular at times, his efforts just weren't enough. The Flyers took 33 shots as opposed to the Capital's 19, so even though he saved 11 more shots than Marty Biron (congratulations to Biron by the way- his wife gave birth on Monday), he gave up 5 goals. The sixth was an empty netter.
    Briere, Hartnell and Kapanen each scored and gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead in the first, making the Philly faithful believe they could coast to an easy game three victory. But Washington came back strong in the second, spending most of the second period in the Philadelphia zone. They got 5 power play opportunities as well, but could only convert one. For a period they clearly controlled the tempo, but just couldn't put it in the net enough. The third period had the most exciting 15 minutes of scoreless hockey I've seen in a long time, with fighting and checking and near misses left and right. Things really got interesting with 5 minutes to go, though.
    Down 4-2, Brooks Laich of the Capitals fired a goal at Biron that seemed like an easy call for the referees, but some controversy as to whether or not there was contact on Briere and some potential high sticking made it seem as though it may be called back. But the officials in Philadelphia and Toronto upheld the goal, much to the chagrin of the crowd. As the boos rained down from the rafters of the Wachovia Center, the blood pressure of the coaches and players rose- they started to have that eerie feeling of deja vu, as memories of the game one disaster flooded back.
    With three minutes to go, the Flyers needed a spark. And one came, by the name of Mike Richards. As he sped past the defense, he aimed a shot at Huet. But a Capital hooked his leg from behind, launching him into the goaltender. Penalty shot. As the room I was sitting in erupted, a fellow Philly fan sitting nearby remarked "This happens once every ten years!" (I actually checked it out, by the way: the last penalty shot in the playoffs was Chris Pronger in 2006.) Richards struck it through the 5-hole to secure the win. The final goal was an empty netter by Knuble.
    Briere was magnificent; his 3 points gives him 6 for the series. It seems like his big-money contract might be worth it after all. And can somebody put out an all points bulletin for Alexander Ovechkin? We need to find him stat to make this a series. I mean, that imposter wearing number 8 is giving the man a bad name.. what? That's him? Sorry. I just assumed the probable MVP of the league would show up for a playoff game.
    With game four staying in the City of Brotherly Love, the momentum has shifted completely to the Flyers. They should go back to Washington with a 3-1 lead and put the Capitals away in style.