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Ovie makes playoff debut as Caps host Flyers in Game 1

Fri 11th, April 2008

(Sports Network) - Alex Ovechkin and the third-seeded Washington Capitals will try to keep the momentum going from a late-season surge tonight, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at the Verizon Center for Game 1 of the best-of- seven Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

The Capitals won seven straight and 11 of 12 games to close out the regular season and eclipse Carolina for the Southeast title. Washington is in the playoffs for the first time 2003 and won its first division crown since taking consecutive Southeast titles in 2000 and '01.

For all intents and purposes, Ovechkin wrapped up the Hart Trophy for his play this entire season, but especially for his work down the stretch. With the pressure on in the closing month of the season, Ovechkin recorded 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in Washington's final 18 games.

Ovechkin finished the year as the NHL's leader in points (112) and goals (65), meaning he will win both the Art Ross and Rocket Richard Trophies. The 22- year-old Russian's goal total was also the highest in league history for a left winger, breaking the mark of 63 tallies set by Luc Robitaille of the Los Angeles Kings in 1991-92.

Tonight will mark Ovechkin's first-ever playoff game and he will be eager to make a good impression.

Ovechkin had three goals and two assists against the Flyers this year, but Philadelphia won the season series against the Caps, posting a slight 2-1-1 edge.

The Caps also benefited greatly from some trades at the deadline, particularly the deal to get goaltender Cristobal Huet from Montreal. Huet, who was acquired for a second-round pick in the 2009 draft, has been superb in 13 games with Washington, posting an 11-2-0 record with a 1.63 goals against average and .936 save percentage.

Huet has taken the starting job away from the Caps' longtime franchise goaltender Olaf Kolzig, who turned 38 years old earlier this month. The 32- year-old Huet is 2-4 lifetime in the playoffs, but posted a solid 2.33 GAA and .929 save percentage in those games.

Another big piece of the puzzle for the 2007-08 Capitals was the coaching change that saw Bruce Boudreau replace Glen Hanlon as the head coach after 21 games. Washington went just 6-14-1 under Hanlon and 37-17-7 with Boudreau behind the bench.

Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Philadelphia is back in the playoffs after suffering through the worst season in franchise history a year ago. The 2006-07 edition of the Orange & Black not only missed out on the postseason, but finished last in the NHL for the first time in club history. The Flyers' 54 points was also the lowest-ever total for the team.

Changes came early on last season, as head coach Ken Hitchcock was fired and replaced by John Stevens and Paul Holmgren took over as general manager when Bob Clarke resigned. Holmgren made a handful of moves last year and kept the wheeling and dealing going in the offseason. The club responded with a 41- point improvement in just one year.

Since Holmgren's arrival, the Flyers have added many new faces at goaltender (Martin Biron), forward (Danny Briere, Scott Hartnell, Joffrey Lupul, Vaclav Prospal) and defense (Kimmo Timonen, Jason Smith, Braydon Coburn).

However, the Flyers also benefited from the improved play of highly-touted youngsters Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, who were drafted while Clarke was GM and Holmgren his assistant. Both players had been mild disappointments for the franchise prior to this season, but that changed in 2007-08.

Richards, 23, was Philadelphia's best overall player this year, as he scored a career-high 28 goals and led the team in assists (47) and points (75). He is also the team's top penalty killer and led all Flyers forwards with a plus-14 rating.

The 23-year-old Carter also took a big step forward as he played in all 82 games and he recorded career-highs in goals (29) and assists (24).

Briere, meanwhile, didn't come close to the 95 points he scored with Buffalo in 2006-07, but he managed to lead the Flyers in goals with 31 and was second with 72 points. He really came on in the last month of the season, registering 17 points (9g, 8a) in his final 15 games of the season.

The 30-year-old Briere, who did have a dismal minus-22 rating this year, missed the final two games of the regular season with a knee injury, but is expected to be ready for Game 1 of this series.

The Flyers had a whopping six players with 20 goals or more this season and that doesn't even include Prospal, who had 33 tallies, but only four after coming over from Tampa Bay in a deadline deal. In addition to Richards, Carter and Briere, Philadelphia also had 20-goal scorers in Mike Knuble (29), Hartnell (24) and Lupul (20).

Biron played in 62 games between the pipes this year -- his most since seeing action in 72 games with Buffalo in 2001-02. The 30-year-old was up and down this year with a 30-20-9 mark, .918 save percentage and 2.59 goals-against average. Biron did end the regular season on a high note, as he came up with two shutouts in his final two outings to help ensure Philly a spot in the postseason.

Tonight's test will mark Biron's first-ever appearance in the playoffs.

The Flyers are hoping to have team captain Smith back in the lineup for Game 1. Smith missed Philadelphia's final game of the regular season with an upper- body injury, but is expected to play tonight.

The Capitals have won two of the three all-time playoff series against the Flyers. Washington posted series' wins over Philly in 1984 and 1988, but the Flyers won the last postseason meeting between the clubs in 1989.

Washington is 23-15-3 as the hosts this season, while the Flyers were 21-15-5 as the visiting club.

Game 2 of this series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in D.C.

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