Last season the Washington Capitals were 4-0 playing the Philadelphia Flyers. That's not going to happen this season. It can't happen. This team is so far from last years sad bunch, and I say this because if there is anything one expects from the guys from Broadstreet, it is that they play with heart. Last year they weren't even close.
Trading for Jason Smith and also making him the captain is the smartest move the Flyers have done in years. Smith personifies the Philadelphia Flyers with his ability to play through pain and block shots. Last night he wore the marks of a puck to his face from the previous game. That sort of thing earns you respect.
Capital's goalie Olaf Kolzig, who faced 23 shots in the last two periods, said these Flyers were a very different team from last season, something his coach, Glen Hanlon, also had pointed out before the game.
But, Philadelphia isn't the only team to improve from last season, the Capitals, too, are vastly better, and they raced out of the gates against taking a first period 1-0 lead, outscoring the guests 14-6. Then, late in the first period, Mike Richards took a 5 minute penalty for fighting which seemed to ignite his team. He later returned, with 12 stiches on his nose, to score the tie-breaking 2-1 goal.
Daniel Briere, booed every time he had the puck for the second straight game, later put the Flyers up 3-1 before Alexander Ovechkin got the Caps within one goal with a blast from the point. A late surge from the hosts didn't result in any more goals and Philadelphia stood as victors with a 3-2 score.
The Flyers continue to impress and Washington continue to play well but lose.
2 comments:
Speaking of unsung heros, you hit the nail right on the head by naming Jason Smith. This guy's got captain written all over him.
You won't see his name on any all-star ballots or in any boxscores but this guy is a rock-solid stay-at-home defender who is owed a ton of credit. He has been a valuable commodity ever since his Jersey days. Most of all, he shows up every night, plays a hard-nosed game, and keeps his mouth shut. He played in one the greatest hockey hot-beds and one day the Leafs dished him over to Edmonton and there he stayed for years. He wore the "C" with pride and never even thought about calling up Kevin Lowe to ask for a ticket out of town à la Chris Pronger. Expect the same in Philly.
I couldn't agree more.
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