Rockin' the Red: Afternoon Style
By Gustafsson -
April 13, 2008
We're back in the box in full force with both Eric McErlain and JP to my left. Greg Wyshynski is here, too.
- I entered the Metro system at the L'Enfant Plaza station to a strange sight. Due to the Nationals game at 1:35 and the Caps game at 2, the yellow/green platform was packed with the one side all Caps red and the other in red with a curly W.
- A little under an hour before the game, F street was a little quieter than Friday. Either everyone was already inside, or the end of week happy hour festive drinking did not carry over to Sunday morning/early afternoon. Did they not think about rockin' the red with bloody marys?
- How do you solve choosing between Caleb Green and Bob McDonald for the anthem? Have them both by virtue of the Military Quartet anchored on the left by Caleb and the right by Bob.
- A warm welcome to our Russian guests. Dmitry Chesnokov's parents are visiting DC and taking in their first NHL game from my normal perch in 426. Both are Rocking the Red.
First Period
- 0:29 into the first and the Flyers have their first penalty. The power play looks ineffective so far and then a shorthanded chance for Philly.
- Hartnell was lining up Green for what looked like would be a monster check. Green smoothly sidestepped him and Hartnell caught all board.
- A Flyer pass from Coburn at the defensive faceoff dot right through the center to RJ Umberger leads to the Flyers 1st goal. Perhaps later Ovechkin can go Brian Campbell on him.
- Is this team still nervous? Or are they a bit overconfident from their Friday night comeback?
- There seems to be a distinct lack of hitting that was everywhere on Friday.
- A good number of the media in the row in front of me are keeping tabs on the Masters. I'll have to look to see if they are from Carolina.
- Yet another defensive breakdown leads to an odd man rush and Carter puts it in the net for the Flyers 2nd goal.
Second Period
- Let's hope Bruce has some adjustments for the team.
- Someone stole the crowd's voice. The phone booth is the quietest it has been in weeks. 0-2 on the scoreboard will do that to you.
- This is still an overwhelming Capitals crowd, except for Section 421 to my right which has a block of about 40 clad in orange and black.
- The Capitals power play is looking better, but after period's end they are 0 for 5 for the game.
- That was not a period to write much about. The hitting picked up a bit and the passing was a bit crisper, but not enough.
Third Period
- We start the third like we did on Friday. Down by 2.
- A beautiful steal by Steckel at the blue line giving him a wonderful short handed chance on Biron. A goal there would have been huge.
- The Caps are back at full strength. That looked better than the power play today. The crowd is starting to wake up.
- I just looked at the stats and after two Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Kozlov are all a minus 2.
- It's looking like there will be a game 5 here at Verizon Center. It will be interesting to see if red dilutes to a more orange tint.
- We'll see if we can make it to Gabby's press conference. We couldn't squeeze in on Friday.
- We have our first fight of the game. Remember section 421? Yep... it's a series now. Check OffWing later as Eric sprinted to the edge of the press box with camera in hand. Are you surprised to learn those ejected were wearing a Hextal and Shultz jersey?
- Huet's winning streak is halted and the series is tied at 1-1. Shots on goal for the game: WAS 24 / PHI 41
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