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Capitals try to even series with Flyers

Apr 17, 2008 - 1:33 PM Washington at Philadelphia 7:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference quarterfinals Flyers lead, 2-1

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - All the hard work the Washington Capitals put in just to make the playoffs may beginning to wear on the club.

The third-seeded Capitals try to avoid a three-games-to-one deficit in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals when they visit the sixth-seeded Philadelphia Flyers for Game Four on Thursday.

Washington, which finished last in the Southeast Division each of the previous three seasons, concluded this campaign by winning 11 of its last 12 games and each of the last seven to claim its first division title since 2000-01.

However, after evening the series with a 2-0 victory in Game Two, the Capitals were no match for the Flyers on Tuesday as Daniel Briere scored two goals and set up another in a 6-3 victory in Game Three.

Despite the win and the two-games-to-one advantage, Briere said he knows the series is far from over.

"It's one game at a time," he said. "There is nothing done yet. I'd rather be up 2-1 than being down, but at the same time, there is lots of work to be done. We've played eight out of nine good, solid periods, so that is a good sign."

Philadelphia has seized control of the series by containing Art Ross and Maurice Richard Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin.

The Russian superstar has three points in the series, but has been held in check for the most part.

"You can see them getting frustrated, and Alex in particular," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It's not like there are words I can say that are going to make it better. He is the best player in the world, and Philadelphia is doing a good job on him right now."