Washington Capitals Dispatch the Philadelphia Flyers in Six Games

The third time was a charm for the Washington Capitals as they eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday afternoon, winning game six by a score of 1-0. 

The Presidents Trophy winning Capitals headed into the postseason, with the top record in the National Hockey League and jumped out to a three games to none lead over the Flyers in the opening round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Flyers avoided the sweep by winning game four in front of their home crowd, then travelled down to the nation’s capital and staved off elimination again in game five. 

On Sunday, the series shifted back to the “City of Brotherly Love” for game six. The first period was a tight battle as both goalies turned away everything that was thrown at them. As the teams moved into the second period the game remained scoreless until almost nine minutes in, when Nicklas Backstrom found the back of the net, giving the Caps a 1-0 lead. Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson picked up the helpers. 

The Flyers small resurgence in the series may have stemmed from them replacing Steve Mason between the pipes, with Michal Neuvirth prior to the start of game four. After the Capitals defeated the Flyers 6-1 in game three at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia seemed deflated and in need of something to change things up, to extend the series. 

The Backstrom goal was the only tally in game five, as both Neuvirth and Bradon Holtby everything else at bay. Holtby turned away all 26 Flyers shots thrown in his direction as Neuvirth stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced on Sunday. 

With the victory Holby, registered his 20^th postseason win, tying him with Olaf Kolzig for most in Capitals team history. 

The Capitals will now prepare to host the Pittsburgh Penguins in their ninth postseason matchup, and first since 2009 when the Penguins knocked off the Capitals in the Eastern Conference Finals, four games to three. The Metropolitan Division Finals will pit the NHL’s top team all season against the NHL’s hottest team since around mid-December, which should make for an interesting series.