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Frank Seravalli: Capitals wouldn't be so unbeatable for Flyers, after all

WASHINGTON - After dispatching the New Jersey Devils in five games last Thursday, the Flyers have earned the right to be glued to their televisions tonight.

Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals play Game 6 of their series against Montreal tonight. (Nick Wass/AP)
Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals play Game 6 of their series against Montreal tonight. (Nick Wass/AP)Read more

WASHINGTON - After dispatching the New Jersey Devils in five games last Thursday, the Flyers have earned the right to be glued to their televisions tonight.

No, the Flyers won't be flipping back and forth between "Dancing With the Stars" or the latest episode of "House." It's a safe bet Versus will have its best out-of-market viewership in Philadelphia for tonight's Game 6 between Washington and host Montreal.

Unlike the regular season - when they were the last team to limp into the playoffs, thanks to a shootout win on the final day - the Flyers do not control their playoff destination heading into the second round.

The top-seeded, daunting Washington Capitals are in charge of the Flyers' fate. Another win and the Capitals will be the Flyers' next opponent. But maybe that isn't so scary.

Alex Ovechkin remains the league's most dangerous, uncontainable player. No one questions that. Ovechkin has five goals and four assists in the Capitals' five playoff games.

But the Capitals might as well be renamed the Ovechkins based on their performance in taking a 3-2 lead over the Canadiens. They have been incredibly one-dimensional. Their league-best power play, which converted at a 25.1 percent success rate in the regular season - nearly 4 percent higher than the next closest team - is just 1-for-24 so far.

Their dual scoring threat of Ovechkin and 40-goal scorer Alex Semin? Semin hasn't scored in 12 straight playoff games. He has been so bad that coach Bruce Boudreau referred to him as one of "four or five passengers" who have been riding on Washington's playoff bus.

"It's been our secret all year, which isn't much of a secret at all," Boudreau said Saturday at the Capitals' practice facility in Arlington, Va. "When [Semin] is scoring, teams can't sit and wait and play their defensive line against Ovechkin and put all of their eggs in one basket.

"We become really tough to play against when we get scoring from three lines."

After Ovechkin - and his linemates Nicklas Backstrom and former Flyer Mike Knuble - the Capitals have had a big dropoff in the playoffs. Defensemen Tom Poti and John Carlson are tied for fourth in playoff scoring.

Defenseman Mike Green, who was named a finalist for the Norris Trophy for the second straight year, had 76 points in the regular season. He has just two assists in the playoffs.

No one gave Montreal a chance to win this series, let alone send it to six games. But the Canadiens have been in a position to win all but Game 4. Washington has played from behind in almost every game, including a 4-1, third-period deficit it erased in Game 2 to avoid heading to Montreal down 2-0.

There is also the matter of Washington's goaltending woes. Jose "Five or More" Theodore was yanked in Game 2 and has yet to see another second of action. The Caps are relying on Semyon Varlamov, who turns 22 tomorrow.

Through all that, the Capitals held a commanding 3-1 lead Friday at home. They are still the 121-point gorilla that won the Eastern Conference by an incredible 18 points.

"It was our first regulation loss in 11 games," Boudreau said after Montreal's 2-1 victory. "We're not perfect. But we don't need to blow everything up to be successful. This chance to regroup [for tonight's game] will be better for us."

Every Capital believes Semin and the supporting cast will break out soon.

"Montreal has done a good job on him, but he is increasingly becoming the most dangerous player on the ice the longer he goes without a goal," Brooks Laich said. "He's going to start scoring. Good players, you can't hold back forever."

Said Ovechkin: "When he plays his game, it's pretty amazing how he can play."

No one doubts that. But if the opponents are the Capitals, the Flyers are much better suited to face them now than they were 2 years ago when they upset Washington in the first round in seven games. They have two shutdown defensive pairs, anchored by Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen. Pronger said he watched Friday's Capitals game and kept a "mental Rolodex."

The question mark is - and has been - the Flyers' offense. No matter who the Flyers face - Washington, Boston or Pittsburgh - skating without Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne will hurt.

"Whoever plays [the Flyers] is going to have a tough assignment," Boudreau said before stopping himself. "I don't know why you're asking me Flyers questions. I'm not worried about the Flyers. I'm worried about the Montreal Canadiens."

Since Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby arrived in the NHL in 2005, the two Hart Trophy winners always have been judged in relation to each other. Ovechkin finally was handed the captain's "C" this season.

Crosby won an Olympic gold medal this year. Ovechkin's Russian team was sent home without a medal.

Crosby won the Stanley Cup last year. Ovechkin has never had a series last fewer than seven games. On his blog, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said his team did not "respect the process" enough to step on Montreal in five games.

The Capitals go as Ovechkin goes. We already know that. But tonight - and maybe even later this week - we will all see what kind of a leader Ovechkin really is.

By the numbers

5: Number of points for Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger (two goals, three assists) in five playoff games. San Jose's Dan Boyle - his overtime own-goal not included - had six in the first round.

18: Minutes in penalties for Dan Carcillo, to go along with his three points, in the first round.

87.5 percent: The Flyers' penalty kill gave up just four goals (28-for-32) against New Jersey.

187:39: Minutes Brian Boucher went without allowing an even-strength goal to the Devils. The clock will keep ticking in Round 2.

Second-round scenarios

(Teams reseeded after first round)

The Flyers will face No. 1 seed Washington if the Capitals eliminate No. 8 Montreal; they will face No. 4 Pittsburgh if Montreal eliminates Washington and No. 3 Buffalo eliminates No. 6 Boston; they will face Boston if Montreal eliminates Washington and Boston eliminates Buffalo.

Tonight's game

Washington at Montreal, Game 6, 7 o'clock, Versus

Washington leads, 3-2.

Buffalo at Boston, Game 6, 7 o'clock.

Boston leads series, 3-2

Flyers notes

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren confirmed a Daily News report that Ian Laperriere suffered a non-displaced fracture of the orbital bone as a result of getting hit with a Paul Martin slap shot in the face Thursday in Game 5. Holmgren said "hell would freeze over'' before Laperriere would miss a game. Laperriere could return to practice today and will wear a full cage on his helmet to protect the injury . . . The Flyers did not practice yesterday but skated on Saturday . . . Goalie Michael Leighton returned to practice Saturday for the first time since sustaining a severe high left ankle sprain on March 21. Leighton could be Brian Boucher's backup at some point during the second round if he is completely healthy.