Washington Capitals Hockey
Saturday, April 5, 2008
It's All Set
Beginning Friday, April 11, the Verizon Center will be
packed to the gills with throngs of Washington Capitals faithful and
certainly a fair share Philadelphia Flyers fanatics.
The Washington Capitals hosted some memorable best-of-7
battles with the bruisers from Broad Street. But this is the first time
these two teams will meet in the postseason since the old Patrick
Division dropped the Capitals and was renamed the Atlantic Division
after the 1992-93 season.
But this Friday's series opener marks the 19th
anniversary of a game I will personally never forget. On April 11,
1989, I sat in the upper level at the raucous old Capital Centre and
watched Ron Hextall
score an empty netter, the first by a goaltender in
NHL playoff history:
That goal stuck a knife in the back of Washington, who
just won their first ever Patrick Division Champsionship in team
history. With help from Hextall the Flyers broke a 2-2 series
tie to give Philly a 3-2
series lead which they closed out the next game back at the Spectrum.
That was Washington's last taste of Philly, and it was a bitter, bitter
pill. Get used to those awful Flyers airhorns in town a second time
around, as this long-forgotten rivalry is rekindled.
In the two prior playoff meetings with Philadelphia,
including one the previous postseason, the Capitals fared much better.
In 1987-88, the Capitals used all seven games to eliminate the Flyers.
Four years earlier in 1983-84, the Capitals swept the Flyers 3 games to
none for the franchise's first ever playoff series win.
Two decades ago, this was developing into a bitter
rivalry. That was cut short as the Pittsburgh Penguins took over and
found humiliating the Capitals to be both fun and easy as they won 6 of
7 series across the following decade.
Ironically, a series win over Philly would likely match
the Capitals with the Penguins (if they defeat Ottawa.) But
that's a whole other set of stories for another day.
For now it's all about Philly and both teams have an
entire week to rest and prepare. No other series begins this late. All
the others begin either Wednesday or Thursday. In fact, San Jose and
Calgary will be in the books for two by Thursday, the day before the
Caps opener on Friday. Friday also finds three other series playing
their second games while the Caps get ready for their first.
This lengthy rest could work out perfectly for the
injury situation around the Capitals locker room. Shaone Morrisonn
may
be fully healed, as should Jeff
Schultz. Both are listed day-to-day. David Steckel was
cleared to play the season finale but sat out. His
finger should be nearing 100% come Friday. Even the mystery shrouding
the crotch of Chris Clark
may unfold with him in the lineup, or it may
not.
So this has been just a brief preview. With so many off
days ahead, I plan to chronicle some of the earlier
Washington/Philadelphia playoff battles. Check back soon.
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