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Biron, Flyers pull even with Capitals

Apr 13, 2008 - 11:08 PM By Tim Hipps PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) - This time, the Philadelphia Flyers managed to hold on to a lead.

R.J. Umberger and Jeff Carter scored first-period goals and goaltender Martin Biron made them hold up with 24 saves as the Flyers posted a 2-0 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

Philadelphia was coming off a crushing 5-4 defeat in Game One of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series when it squandered a two-goal lead in the third period. But the Flyers rebounded in stellar fashion to even the series at one win apiece.

"I can't put it any plainer," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Philadelphia outplayed us, outworked us and out-won the battles on us. We now know that we've got to pay a bigger price if we want to succeed."

Philadelphia came out with more energy than Washington on Sunday and was in control from start to finish. The Capitals did have some chances in the first period but could not take advantage of four power plays.

"They played smart and they played with a lot of grit," said Capitals goaltender Cristobal Huet, who saw his career-high nine-game winning streak come to an end. "They scored early in the game and they seemed to be on a run after that."

Defenseman Braydon Coburn sent a perfect stretch pass to Umberger, who split two defensemen and broke in alone on Huet. Umberger flipped a shot over Huet's stick to give the Flyers the lead just 5:53 into the first period.

"I probably didn't get all of it, but it's where I wanted to go," Umberger said. "I came down and I was thinking backhand, but Huet was back in the crease so far he didn't come out at all. So, really, it was a second choice of mine to shoot - and that's where I wanted to go."

With 4:43 remaining in the session, Philadelphia took advantage of defenseman Mike Green's turnover to double its lead.

Green, who had a pair of third-period goals in Washington's 5-4 victory in Game One, coughed up the puck in the neutral zone, sending Philadelphia's Mike Knuble on a 2-on-1 break. Huet made a kick save on Knuble's slap shot from the right point but Carter pounced on the rebound and snapped the puck underneath the crossbar.

"I was comfortable early on because we took the 1-0 lead," said Biron, who was making just his second playoff appearance. "Then going up 2-0, I think it definitely makes you a little more comfortable to be able to play your game. You can challenge a little bit and sometimes make a few mistakes and be able to battle hard, try to make some saves."

The Flyers made sure the Capitals did not mount another comeback by peppering Huet with 41 shots - including 18 in the third period.

"We can't expect to come back from a two-goal deficit every night," Huet said. "They worked very hard tonight and had a good night. We are going to have to match that at the next game if we want to be successful.

"They just were more desperate tonight and we're going to have to realize that it's going to take a lot more from everyone to be successful."

The Flyers also frustrated the Capitals with aggressive penalty killing. Overall, Washington had six power plays.

"I thought the big key was our penalty kill in the first period," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "Tactically, there wasn't a lot of difference in the game plan. I just thought we did a much better job with the effort in between the whistles and in the loose-puck races and the puck battles on the boards."

The Flyers also did a good job of shadowing Alex Ovechkin, who managed a team-high five shots but was harassed all over the ice.

"He looked a little tired but he looked a little frustrated as well because he wasn't getting the puck - and they were all on him every time he did touch the puck," Boudreau said.

"You could see in that third period. He had a couple passes on the tape and they went under the stick, that happens. You have to give him a chance to have a mediocre game every once in awhile."

Ovechkin admitted the obvious.

"We didn't score goals," he said. "It's big difference between (the) first game and this game."

The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game Three on Tuesday.

"You can't win all the games, so we have one day to realize what is going on, what we have to change, and play better and play more positive than Philly," Ovechkin added.

The Flyers were thrilled to come out of Washington with a split.

"When you get a win before going home to home ice, it's going to be our fans now screaming at us and getting us energy," Umberger said. "It's a great thing to have won in this building. They've been a hot team on a stretch and we knew we had to get at least one."