Written by Dan Steinberg at WashingtonPost.com
Philadelphia’s playoff cauldron Monday night contained enough nasty poisons to suffocate the typical Capitals lineup. There was the emotional pre-game tribute to late owner Ed Snider, and the obligatory Flyers goal within the first minute of play. There was the injury to defenseman Brooks Orpik, and Philadelphia’s sizable advantage in shots on goal. There was “God Bless America,” and there was “Rocky,” and there were tens of thousands of, let’s call them, “energetic” Flyers fans.
Then there was history: In all its tortured playoff wanderings, this Washington franchise had never managed to win the first three games of a best-of-seven series.
Well, retire that stat, and pack away the first set of playoff fears. One NHL team and fanbase melted down in spectacular, historic, cover-your-eyes fashion Monday night. It wasn’t the one from Washington. The Capitals dominated at special teams, dominated the third period, and kept their cool. The Flyers…uh, what’s the opposite of that? The Philly fans, meanwhile, did their best impression of a kindergarten cafeteria in full rebellion. The result for Washington was a sometimes vicious 6-1 win, a 3-0 series lead and a chance to end this series without returning to Verizon Center.
This was a scenario that has been embarrassing for Washington so often: a 2-0 series lead and a postseason matchup that seems under control. Monday night indeed turned embarrassing, but the Caps were mostly spectators to the folly. The game ended in ugly mayhem, with fans chucking their promotional light-up bracelets on the ice as crestfallen PA announcer Lou Nolan repeatedly pleaded with them to stop.
“This is Philly, this is not somewhere else in the NHL,” he said. “Have some class.”
“Ok, those fans that were classless enough to throw these…next one that’s out there is going to cause us a minor penalty,” he said in mounting panic.
“Ok, those of you that have been throwing them, you’ve done it now!” poor Nolan finally said in agony. “Two-minute bench minor. Way to go.”
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