The Washington Capitals enjoy a 3-0 lead over the Philadelphia Flyers after an intense and brutal game.
Captain Alex Ovechkin scored two goals and added an assist in the 6-1 victory. The team scored five power play goals, the most in their history.
The Flyers scored their only goal 57 seconds into the first, but they quickly imploded afterwards due to horrible penalties and harsh hits.
Raffl scores less than a minute into the game for the Flyers (sick replay NBC) pic.twitter.com/oZPWi4OgJX
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 18, 2016
Capitals forward Marcus Johansson scored a power play goal only four minutes later to tie the game.
But a hush fell on the Capitals bench when Flyers forward boarded Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik. He fell to the ice with stars in his eyes. The trainer rushed out, but Orpik showed clear signs of a concussion.
The hit that likely concussed Brooks Orpik pic.twitter.com/ycd3iQVjTx
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 19, 2016
Orpik after the hit. Was WAY out of it. pic.twitter.com/dJBfGDBMuA
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 19, 2016
A writer at the game said the Philadelphia fans booed Orpik as he left the ice.
Orpik booed off the ice as he goes to the dressing room
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) April 19, 2016
Ovechkin gave the team the lead in the second period.
Ovechkin beats Mason to give the Caps a lead pic.twitter.com/0yEws1hvy8
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 19, 2016
The Flyers completely collapsed in the third period and the Capitals happily took advantage of the situation. They scored four power play goals.
But another Capitals player received a dangerous hit from behind. Flyers forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare leveled Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov against the boards. Bellamere received a penalty and game misconduct, but it caused a huge scuffle. That led to more game misconducts against the Flyers.
Oh my god this is a HORRENDOUS hit pic.twitter.com/F4e9lymItF
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 19, 2016
The Flyers fans showed more frustration as they threw white wristbands they received to honor late owner Ed Snider onto the ice. One person even flicked theirs at Orlov as he cleaned up on the bench.
A Flyers fan pelted Orlov with a bracelet after he was boarded pic.twitter.com/XkPYmwgJtz
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 19, 2016
The power play gave way to another Ovechkin goal, giving the Capitals a 5-1 lead. Flyers fans threw more wristbands and garbage on the ice, which caused their team to receive a delay of game penalty. The Flyers players expressed their frustration at the fans.
Wayne Simmonds called Flyers fans “fucking embarrassing” after they got a delay of game penalty pic.twitter.com/942z6oaQAD
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 19, 2016
When you reply to my tweets with your bad opinions pic.twitter.com/1fXmRmn4IH
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 19, 2016
Flyers forward Matt Read slashed Orlov two minutes later, leading to another power play goal for the Capitals.
“It was a huge response,” Ovechkin told the media. “We knew they were going to come out hard. They have a special moment; a tough moment for them. We tried to handle it, and I think we managed it and we scored on the power play. Obviously, we feel pretty good.”
They will play Game 4 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Eastern
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