Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/ USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals lead their opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-1 so far in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Game five of the series starts April 22nd at 7 p.m. The Capitals can get win number four to advance to the next round. The Capitals haven’t given the Flyers much opportunity to get ahead in the series. The first game, on April 14th, the Capitals shut the Flyers out and won the match 2-0. Goalie Braden Holtby made 19 saves in that game, with the two goals came from John Carlson and Jay Beagle.
Two days later the teams regrouped back in the Verizon Center for game two. The Caps found their second victory that night, winning 4-1. Despite hard efforts from the Flyers, the team wasn’t able to get themselves closer to the Caps on the scoreboard. The Flyers beat the Caps in shots on goal, 42-23. For game three, the Caps and the Flyers met up again in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center. After a heartfelt remembrance for the Flyers’ Ed Snider, the teams faced off again. Flyers fans left disappointed that night, however. After a strong game, with great play from both teams, the Caps won the game 6-1.
Game four, however, had a different ending for the Flyers. The team won their first game of the round on home ice. The Flyers avoided getting swept and kept the Caps off the scoreboard until the third period. Even then, the Flyers were a goal ahead and kept their opponents away from their net long enough to win the game. The Flyers ended the game with two goals, one from Shayne Gostisbehere in the first period and the second from Andrew MacDonald in the second. The Caps only goal of the game came from T.J. Oshie.
The Capitals, though losing opportunity for a sweep, still have the opportunity to take the round in game five on Friday in the Verizon Center. Though the Capitals have been on top for majority of the round, the Flyers have proved that they can step up when necessary. Regardless, game five will be one to watch.
The Caps and the Flyers meet for the fifth time tomorrow, April 22, at 7 p.m.
