1. For all of the good stuff that happened last night – at least from the Caps’ side – there was one potentially bad moment when Brooks Orpik was felled by a Ryan White check:
Orpik injured on this hit pic.twitter.com/WohH6mQ3H1
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) April 19, 2016
Orpik appeared to be woozy as he left the ice and would not return to the game, diagnosed with everyone’s favorite “upper-body injury” and set to be reevaluated today.
2. The Caps have dominated the special teams’ battle to this point in the series, but last night it went to a whole different level as they cashed in on a franchise-record five – FIVE – power plays, bringing their series total up to eight goals on 17 chances. On the flip side, the Flyers have gone 0-for-13, including another five tonight.
It was such a lopsided affair that the Caps tried not to run up the score by using well-known power-play specialist Jay Beagle on the final man advantage of the evening… and even he scored:
BEAGLE SCORES! #CapsFlyers 6-1 pic.twitter.com/b5qrEUGSCr
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) April 19, 2016
Also, the Caps had the League’s 2nd-best Special Teams Index (PP% + PK%) during the season at 107.1. In the playoffs, it’s 147.0 (47 + ).
— Japers’ Rink (@JapersRink) April 19, 2016
#Caps went 60 games without scoring multiple PPGs in the postseason (Apr.26, 2009 – Apr.14,2016). Have now done so in back-to-back games
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) April 19, 2016
Leave it to Barry Trotz to put it best…
“Our power play is very confident and they’re (the Flyers) giving us lots of practice.” -Barry Trotz #Caps
— Anthony Mingioni (@AnthonyMingioni) April 19, 2016
3. Things got pretty nasty in this one. On the ice, in the stands… just ugly. It wasn’t exactly a pretty game (or series) to begin with, but the bulk of the nastiness tonight started with this hit on Dmitry Orlov:
Bellemare with a cheap shot on Orlov #CapsFlyers
Orlov is ok pic.twitter.com/0QvFwv89lZ
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) April 19, 2016
Oh my god this is a HORRENDOUS hit pic.twitter.com/F4e9lymItF
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 19, 2016
That led to a five-minute major for Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, a bunch of Flyers getting tossed, and some pissed-off Flyer fans expressing their disapproval as only they can.
Wristbands now flying onto the ice at Wells Fargo Center. “Show some class here,” the PA announcer says.
— Alex Prewitt (@alex_prewitt) April 19, 2016
Two-minute minor to the Flyers for wristbands on the ice. “Way to go,” the PA announcer says.
— Alex Prewitt (@alex_prewitt) April 19, 2016
A Flyers fan pelted Orlov with a bracelet after he was boarded pic.twitter.com/XkPYmwgJtz
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 19, 2016
Nice look, Philly.