Capitals (12-10-6) @ Philadelphia (8-16-4) Keys to the Game
#1: Shut Down Gagne
With no Peter Forsberg in the lineup, Simon Gagne is the Flyers biggest scoring threat. Gagne has 22 points and 14 goals in 28 games. Their next highest scorer is Mike Knuble, who has 18 points in 22 games. Peter Forsberg has, admittedly, been struggling with 16 points in 22 games. Three Caps equal or outscore Gagne, Ovechkin (32 points), Semin (23 points) and Zubrus (22 points). Stopping Gagne could shut down the Flyers offense.
#2: Take a First Period Lead and Hold it through the Second
The Flyers have only have a .091 win percentage when the trail after the first period. When they lead, they have a .625 win percentage. The Caps win .692 percent of the games when they lead after one period, and .909 percent of the games when the lead after the second. It doesn't hurt that the Flyers have NEVER won a game when they are trailing after the second. Taking a lead into the third will be huge for the Caps.
#3: Think Offensively
Plain and simply, the Flyers allow 3.64 goals per game, the most of any NHL team. The Caps average 3.07 goals per game, 9th in the lead. If the Caps can be effective on the power play (they are 17th in the league with a 16.3% efficiency), then they can take it to the Flyers.
Players to Watch for...
Philadelphia: Simon Gagne
As I said before, Gagne is the teams leading scorer and has been their only efficient scorer over the year. While Knuble and Geoff Sanderson (17 points) have contributed, Gagne carries most of the offensive load for the Flyers.
Washington: Alexander Ovechkin
If Philly has one advantage over Washington, it is their 9th ranked Penalty Kill. Ovechkin and Alexander Semin are tied for the team lead with 7 power play goals. Ovechkin has had 4 asssists in the last two games and it is about time for him to bust out with a goal. Getting one on the power play could boost his confidence and give the Caps a ton of momentum.
With no Peter Forsberg in the lineup, Simon Gagne is the Flyers biggest scoring threat. Gagne has 22 points and 14 goals in 28 games. Their next highest scorer is Mike Knuble, who has 18 points in 22 games. Peter Forsberg has, admittedly, been struggling with 16 points in 22 games. Three Caps equal or outscore Gagne, Ovechkin (32 points), Semin (23 points) and Zubrus (22 points). Stopping Gagne could shut down the Flyers offense.
#2: Take a First Period Lead and Hold it through the Second
The Flyers have only have a .091 win percentage when the trail after the first period. When they lead, they have a .625 win percentage. The Caps win .692 percent of the games when they lead after one period, and .909 percent of the games when the lead after the second. It doesn't hurt that the Flyers have NEVER won a game when they are trailing after the second. Taking a lead into the third will be huge for the Caps.
#3: Think Offensively
Plain and simply, the Flyers allow 3.64 goals per game, the most of any NHL team. The Caps average 3.07 goals per game, 9th in the lead. If the Caps can be effective on the power play (they are 17th in the league with a 16.3% efficiency), then they can take it to the Flyers.
Players to Watch for...
Philadelphia: Simon Gagne
As I said before, Gagne is the teams leading scorer and has been their only efficient scorer over the year. While Knuble and Geoff Sanderson (17 points) have contributed, Gagne carries most of the offensive load for the Flyers.
Washington: Alexander Ovechkin
If Philly has one advantage over Washington, it is their 9th ranked Penalty Kill. Ovechkin and Alexander Semin are tied for the team lead with 7 power play goals. Ovechkin has had 4 asssists in the last two games and it is about time for him to bust out with a goal. Getting one on the power play could boost his confidence and give the Caps a ton of momentum.
posted by The Jet at 12:47 PM
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