FLYERS NEWS

The Flyers didn't quite start the playoffs the way they wanted to tonight in Washington against the Capitals. For a while everything seemed to be going there way, but alas, it was but another aberration as a 3rd period collapse doomed the Flyer's to defeat. Early in the first period of play, Donald Brashear, yes the former Flyer enforcer, scored for a 1-0 Caps lead. A few minutes later Vinny Prospal answered back for the Flyers, tieing it at one. Early in the 2nd period of play Dan Steckel scored for a 2-1 Caps lead. Later in the period Danny Briere, Prospal and then Briere again scored 3 goals in rapid succession to push the Flyers ahead 4-2 heading into the 3rd period. Early in the 3rd period of play Mike Green scored twice, once on the power play and once at even strength, to knot it up again at 4. Then Ubertalent Alexander Ovechkin made his first appearance of the playoffs, breaking the Flyer's hearts as he scored with just under 5 minutes to play to put the Caps ahead 5-4. From there the Caps played strong D and the Flyers just couldn't find one more goal to force overtime and eventually succumbed to drop game 1 to the Caps 5-4. Now, if they want to maintain any prayer of advancing to the next round the Flyers will have to just shake it off and win game two.