Zednik's out with the dreaded "undisclosed upper body injury".

I think this one might be high scoring, though- the Flyers need to recover from the recent blowouts, and they're weak enough that the Caps might lay a little smackdown on 'em.

We shall see......

Forgot to mention that right at the end of last game, Sutherby apparently broke Vigier's nose (unintentionally) with a stick to the face. No call.

Stoppage :10 in..... what scintillating hockey!

Esche in goal for the Flyers, it's Johnson for the Caps.

Caps' PP pretty much sucked- Flyers killed it easy, couple of clears....

OVECHKIN SCORES!!!!!! And believe it or not, there was a LOUD roar from the Philly crowd!

Eminger back in the lineup tonight....

Semin goes to the box for a hook, and the Flyers get the PP now.

At least the Flyers know how to set up. The Caps hold them off, however.

JB just said Forsberg is the new captain of the Flyers.

Assists on the AO goal were..... wait for it.....

Muir (primary), and Sutherby.

Wow- Johnson stops a point-blank shot from Umberger, there's a rebound, and he gets that, too. Stellar!

Flyers lead 6-2 in SOGs.

Freddy Meyer IV upends Ovechkin with a nice hip check, but the Caps are offside.

This time the Caps get it in and keep it there for a while, but Philly clears it twice....  and then a steal, and a shorty by Gagne.....

1-1.

Terrible turnover by the Caps.

WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!! Clymer gets it right back- Hanlon moved him up to forward, and it pays off immediately!

2-1 Caps!

WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Caps come down, and Ovechkin pots his second of the period!!!!!!

One correction: THIS goal is with less than 1:00 left in the period- my old eyes misread the time on the Fleishmann goal. edit: But since I didn't mention that here, the correction is pointless.....

4-1, end 1st, and the boobirds are in full force in Philadelphia.......

Clymer the interview: "lot of built up frustration from last night's game..... make it a speed game- that's our hockey team..... gotta learn from what you do wrong.... too many games left to dwell on (mistakes)..... learn from it (last night's loss)."

Smiling face, though- he's glad to be back on offense, and you can tell it a mile away.

Some stats.....

SOGs, 11-8 Flyers

hits, 8-6 Flyers (and there were several good ones- more physical than I thought it would be, to this point)

blocks are 4-4, missed shots 5-4 Flyers

Flyers 2 penalties for 4:00, Caps 1 for 2:00

Well, the Flyers are living down to their record as worst PP in the League.....

killed.

Meanwhile, the Caps are on another PP............ nothing to show for this one. Killed.

Flyers lead the SOGs 16-9 so far.

Caps on the PP again, Semin catches a stick in the face.....

Hanlon uses his timeout.

Actually, this is a 5 on 3, and the Caps don't get it- good control, but no goal..... AO misses a chance at the hatty while still on the PP......

Flyers kill it all off, and the fans give them a great cheer for the effort.

Timeout.

It's not just tonight- Clarke built them for the old NHL, and they can't keep up, in the new one.

Buffalo is all speed- keep up with them, maybe even a little ahead, and they'll fold.

4-1, end 2nd. Still being outshot, out-everythinged except the scoreboard.....

I'll take it.

Clymer again, :29 into the 3rd- and the Caps take a 5-1 lead.

Scoring change on the Caps' first goal takes a helper from Sutherby and gives it to Bradley. Both of them have 2 on the night.

Semin is a -2 tonight- JB and Locker talking about (rightfully so) how his game has deteriorated lately- not skating to open ice, not going to the shooting lanes looking for the pass. Hope he gets back in the groove soon.

They kill the two-manner, and Johnson flashes a big glove to keep the score the same....

Clark on a shorty attempt, and Nittimaki (he played the whole 2nd does the same.....

the Flyers come right down and score.

5-3, with plenty of time left (5:01).

Should the Flyers tie this up (and I don't think they will, just saying with about 5:00 left), we can hang this one on Hanlon- he'd taken Ovechkin out of the game. Ovie skated 1 shift as the 3rd started, then missed over 4:00, then another shift, then missed 6:00.....

under a minute left in regulation.

Empty net....

sleep easy, Caps' fans!

5-3 final.