My Thoughts:
*Again the Caps had to kill off 4 penalties including a 5 on 3, however the penalty kill has been dominant. The Flyers have a very good power play but the Caps have shut it down time and time again. It is something they will have to improve on as they head up to Philly, but it is nice to know they can kill penalties when needed.
*Braden Holtby was great again, he stopped 41 of 42 shots. I felt comfortable because Holtby was calm and just great in net. The goal the Jakub Voracek scored was kind of a lucky play for the Flyers. However, they would not be given anything else.
*John Carlson scored his 2nd goal of the playoffs when he shot the puck through a screen on the power play to make it 1-0, Nick Backstrom and Marcus Johansson got the assists.
*Then the weirdest goal I have ever seen in person, as on a chip in from center ice Steve Mason let the puck in the net to make it 2-0. The goal was Jason Chimera's from Karl Alzner, and Matt Niskanen.
*After the Voracek goal the Caps got a power play about 8 minutes after, and they would make them pay as Nick Backstrom made a beautiful pass to Alex Ovechkin who would one time the puck pass Steve Mason to make it 3-1 after two. Marcus Johansson picked up his 4th assist in two games on the goal.
*In the third the Caps ramped up the physical play, and then Nick Backstrom would score to put the game away with 2:13 to make it 4-1. T.J Oshie and John Carlson got the assists.
*One thing I like is the Caps are winning the special teams battle which is a huge key come playoff time. The Caps had half as many power plays as the Flyers and scored both times. The called on the Caps were questionable and the Flyer had a 5 on 3 and a 4 on 3 and still the Caps turned it away. The Caps can't keep taking penalties but the Flyers will be growing frustrated after awhile because they aren't taking advantage of their chances.
*Overall this was a important game for the Caps, and even though the Flyers gave a great effort outshooting the Caps 42-23. It didn't matter because the Caps kept their composer and were able to still win by 3 goals. There is still things the Caps can do better but at the end of the day all that matters this time of year is if you win. So far so good, now the series will shift to the hostile environment that is the Wells Fargo Center.
What's Next: Game 3 Monday April 18th at. Philadelphia 7:00 p.m on CSN
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