Caps-Flyers Live

Welcome to Verizon Center, where the Philadelphia Flyers are in town for what's sure to be an action-packed game. Bruce Boudreau has reunited the Alex Semin-Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom line, meaning Brendan Morrison will be centering the second line between Brooks Laich and Mike Knuble.

Jose Theodore and Ray Emery are between the pipes.

First Period
Great up-and-down action during the first seven minutes of the game. Scott Hartnell hit the post and Backstrom got close on a great pass from Ovie, but otherwise there weren't any quality scoring chances before the first TV timeout.

More back-and-forth action but no real offensive threats. The Caps are not driving the net enough and instead trying to make the perfect pass. Matt Bradley, who is fourth on the team with three goals, has had a few good opportunities playing on the fourth line. Keith Aucoin has played with his normal energy and drive. Theo's had some good plays too.

Great save by Theo just past the 15 minute mark, robbing Jeff Carter point blank with the Flyers collapsing in front of the net. Semin a minute later cut the net and was wide open in front but somehow didn't shoot. The puck was bouncing but getting a shot in that situation is paramount.

The first power play of the night commenced when Ole-Kristian Tollefsen was called for cross-checking at 17:51. But nothing changed in that department as the Caps' inept power play made the Redskins' offense look productive. The Caps barely threatened.

After one: Caps 0, Flyers 0

Second Period
After B-Mo was called for hooking, Hartnell finished a pretty two-on-one from Richards at 3:06 to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Perhaps it will follow the pattern of the first game and the goal-fest now will begin.

At 3:58, Backstrom was called for tripping -- which prompted Boudreau to utter a non-family-friendly phrase on the bench. The Caps managed to kill it off and stay in the game.

The Flyers are dominating play and the Caps aren't doing anything to change it. They're falling into the trap, so to speak, and trying for big hits instead of hitting them where it matters most: on the scoreboard. They tried hitting Emery into the net (with the puck) but it didn't work.

The Caps started to step up the pressure and earned themselves 1:41 of five-on-three after a Flyers' too-man-men on the ice and an interference call on Darroll Powe. The Caps probably had their best five-on-three session of the season but they spent the first 30 seconds passing before starting to unleash the shots. They even had two guys in front. They really need to start playing ugly -- as you don't get style points.

No goals on the power play, they now haven't scored on any power play since the first period of the Oct. 15 win over the San Jose Sharks.

And it cost them because the Flyers got a second power play goal off a slap shot from the point by Braydon Coburn with James van Riemsdyk in front of the net.

Ovie brought the crowd to life at 16:08 with a beautiful shot from the slot off a great pass from Backstrom (natch!). It's Ovie's 10th of the season. Jeff Schultz got the secondary assist, his fourth helper of the season (same as Semin).

The Caps got a late power play and finally connected with the extra man. Backstrom got open in the high slot and took a pass from Semin to tie the game at two. The goals were 2:08 apart.

After two: Caps 2, Flyers 2.

Third Period
Semin started to redeem himself with a trademark wrister just after a Flyers' power play expired to give the Caps their first lead of the game. The Caps are a much different team than they were for all but the last four minutes of the second period. It's Semin's seventh goal of the season.

After some back-and-forth action, the Flyers got a penalty shot after Powe was taken down by the slow-footed Tom Poti. Theo made the save to keep the Caps' lead.

The Flyers had a very strong two-minute power play but Theo and the PKers managed to keep them off the scoreboard. Bradley's really having a great game and certainly cementing his status on the team, especially with Boyd Gordon injured.

The Flyers have missed the net a bunch of times tonight. But the Caps have managed to keep up the pressure and the lead. (Cue "unleash the fury" montage.)

Theo's been able to keep the Caps in the lead, despite 41 (and counting) shots by the Flyers. The Caps haven't been able to sustain too much offensive pressure over the last few minutes but, thanks to the goaltending, are still winning.

Emery has vacated the net and the Flyers have called a timeout with 1:03 left. Game. Set. Match. Empty-netter by Ovechkin, his second goal of the night and 11th of the season. Courtesy of Ted, he's now in the league-lead and will give the Caps points in nine of their 11 games this season.

Final: Caps 4, Flyers 2.