Associated Press
WASHINGTON ó Looking tired and frustrated, Alex Ovechkin had trouble simply getting his puck on the stick a couple of times as the game wore on. The Philadelphia Flyers had stymied him again, this time with no allowances for any late-game heroics.
The Flyers shut down the favorite for league MVP, R.J. Umberger and Jeff Carter scored first-period goals, and Martin Biron got his third shutout in four games Sunday to lead a 2-0 victory over the Washington Capitals and even their Eastern Conference series at one game apiece.
The Flyers return home for Tuesday’s Game 3 knowing they’ve had their way with the Capitals for five of six periods. Were it not for a third-period collapse in Game 1, they’d be up 2-0 in the series.
“Everybody always says you want to split, going on the road, after the first two games,” said Biron, who made 24 saves. “We played really well on the road, and now we have to carry that over.”
The loss ended the Capitals’ eight-game winning streak, as well as a victorious run of seven in a row at home.
The Flyers got all the goals they needed with a pair of odd-man rushes in the first period. Defenseman Braydon Coburn made a long lead pass from his own end to Umberger near the Capitals blue line. Umberger split the defense, which was in disarray following a line change, and beat goaltender Cristobal Huet up high on the breakaway.
A turnover at center ice led to the second goal. Mike Knuble took the puck from Jeff Green and started a 2-on-1 rush. Huet made a kick save on Knuble’s shot, but Carter was there to chip in the easy rebound.
Biron took care of the rest, with the help of a defense that cleared nearly every rebound, leaving no garbage-goal opportunities for the Capitals. He and his teammates also killed off all six Washington power plays.