Flyers win slugfest with Caps 6-5 in OT

Now I know what Washington Capitals fans have to deal with most nights. Back and forth hockey where defense and goaltending are like acting in a Michael Bay movie--- nonexistent.

I don't know if my heart could take watching this type of hockey night in and night out, but at least the good guys came out on top. I can't complain, I mean I could, but I won't. The Flyers won and now get to regroup until their week from hell continues on Thursday against the... Joaquin Phoenix sigh... Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

But back to this game for a second. Ray Emery looked a bit shakey in his first home start with the orange and black. That said, he still stopped 31 of 36 shots and his defense did him NO favors tonight. Turnovers were the name of the game and the Caps made the Flyers pay for their mistakes. This is something that will have to be remedied for Thursday's game. You can't plan on spotting the Pens 5 goals and still picking up the win.

On the offensive side of the puck, Mike Richards out dueled Alex Ovechkin and the Caps high powered offense. Richie picked up his second career hat trickall in the second period. His last two goals were seperated by a mere 18 seconds.

Of course, the biggest factor in Richie's night--- other then skill--- was Matt Carle, who picked up not one, two or three but FOUR assists all in the second period. Carle was sensational and he continues to prove why he was once dealt for Danny Boyle, the hockey player not the director.

And who would I be to not mention the man who picked up the game winner? That was a little someone named Danny Briere, who netted the over time game winner on the day of his 32nd birthday. After the year he had last year, there are few people I want to see succeed more then Danny. He's one of the sport's good guys. A little guy with a huge heart, who has had to work hard for every break he's gotten. He took a ton of undeserved heat last year and here's hoping that this year he sends all the message board naysayers scurrying back to their parent's basements in shame.

The Flyers power play went 3-9 tonight, which is incredible. Not so much the three goals that they scored, but the fact that they were given almost twice as many power plays as the Caps. This is huge because Alex The Great doesn't kill penalties. Anytime you can get him off the ice, you're doing something right.

So, the Flyers beat the Caps at their own game. The orange and black played disciplined if not text book hockey and survived a poor defensive night to move to 3-0-0 on the year. Good times, now let's not make a habit of this. I mean, the winning is awesome, but the way they went about it was agonizing.

Next Game: Thursday vs. Pittsburgh
Player of the Game: Mike Richards (3 goals, 6 SOG, 22:27 TOI)
Happy B-Day: Danny Briere