Caps Get Vengeance Against Flyers

Photo: Reuters

So the fireworks between the Washington Capitals and the arch-rival Flyers began before the first puck dropped with a bit of verbal mud-slinging between the 2 bench bosses Bruce Boudreau and John Stevens. In response to Gabby's comments about the Flyers "piling it on" in their last meeting, Flyers coach Stevens had this to say:


"He can say what he wants. Our team plays the way we play; we're a stand-up, honest hockey team. And he can save that stuff for the media outside of me, because I don't really care to hear it."


Note the line"we're a stand-up, honest hockey team." Now that's the funniest thing Hockey Mom has heard in a looong time! Hard working? Yep. Hard-hitting? Yep? But "stand-up" and "honest?" - not so much. How do you think your team earned the lovely title of "Filthadelphia" from opposing hockey clubs and fans throughout the Eastern Conference, Coach?


So the Caps struck first with a power play goal from Nicklas Backstrom - things were looking good. As expected, things got a bit testy out there with pushing and shoving after almost every whistle but fans expecting to see Brashear/Cote butt-whupping Part II were disappointed. Ovechkin was literally trying to take the heads off of several guys in orange sweaters with more wicked highlight-worthy hits. Jose Theodore just keeps getting better and more confident with every game and was money last night stopping 34 shots, fired up by the boisterous red out in the stands.


Braydon Coburn notched the only Flyers goal in the third and this heated contest went into the dreaded shootout (HM bites nails nervously)....

Viktor Kozlov (possessor of some sick shoot out skills) scored on a lovely top-shelf goal on the Caps' first attempt. Theo (earning First Star of the Night honors) consequently denied all of the Flyers shoot out attempts including one one a clearly frustrated Jeff Carter.

Theo's performance, combined with his team mates' stellar efforts, led to a Caps' 2 - 0 SO victory and a rocking red crowd of very happy Caps' faithful celebrating a gratifying win!

A huge Hockey Mom toast to a win over my most-hated team in the League and another 2 points for the boys!