The Washington Capitals had more shots on goal in the first period than the Philadelphia Flyers had in the entire game Friday -- and they lost.
Just like that, after facing a potential sweep in the opening round, the Flyers will return to Philadelphia for a Game 6. As for Game 5, Michal Neuvirth was the hero, foiling the likes of Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie and John Carlson. Philadelphia was outshot 44-11.
Ovechkin finished the game with eight shots on goal. Neuvirth was up to the task on everything he faced, stopping 44 shots to lead his team to a 2-0 win, forcing a sixth game in this series. Meanwhile, the Capitals’ history of being unable to close out the opposition in elimination games has been well documented.
Trotz "Everybody talks about the past, the past, the past. The only pressure we have is on ourselves."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) April 23, 2016
.@NHLFlyers last earned a shutout when facing elimination in Game 5 of 2010 CSF at BOS – a series they won 4-3 after trailing 3-0. #WSHvsPHI
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 23, 2016
Neuvirth was sensational, his best stop of the night coming off Marcus Johansson in the second period, as he sprawled to his right to make the save on a rebound opportunity in close to maintain Philadelphia’s lead.
Ryan White scored the winner. It occurred in the second period, which saw the Flyers manage just two shots on Braden Holtby.
This game started with a bang, as Oshie and Brayden Schenn dropped the gloves for a spirited scrap 10 seconds after the opening faceoff.