The Washington Capitals enjoy a 3-0 lead over the Philadelphia Flyers after an intense and brutal game.
Captain Alex Ovechkin scored two goals and added an assist in the 6-1 victory. The team scored five power play goals, the most in their history.
The Flyers scored their only goal 57 seconds into the first, but they quickly imploded afterwards due to horrible penalties and harsh hits.
Capitals forward Marcus Johansson scored a power play goal only four minutes later to tie the game.
But a hush fell on the Capitals bench when Flyers forward boarded Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik. He fell to the ice with stars in his eyes. The trainer rushed out, but Orpik showed clear signs of a concussion.
A writer at the game said the Philadelphia fans booed Orpik as he left the ice.
Ovechkin gave the team the lead in the second period.
The Flyers completely collapsed in the third period and the Capitals happily took advantage of the situation. They scored four power play goals.
But another Capitals player received a dangerous hit from behind. Flyers forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare leveled Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov against the boards. Bellamere received a penalty and game misconduct, but it caused a huge scuffle. That led to more game misconducts against the Flyers.
The Flyers fans showed more frustration as they threw white wristbands they received to honor late owner Ed Snider onto the ice. One person even flicked theirs at Orlov as he cleaned up on the bench.
The power play gave way to another Ovechkin goal, giving the Capitals a 5-1 lead. Flyers fans threw more wristbands and garbage on the ice, which caused their team to receive a delay of game penalty. The Flyers players expressed their frustration at the fans.
Flyers forward Matt Read slashed Orlov two minutes later, leading to another power play goal for the Capitals.
“It was a huge response,” Ovechkin told the media. “We knew they were going to come out hard. They have a special moment; a tough moment for them. We tried to handle it, and I think we managed it and we scored on the power play. Obviously, we feel pretty good.”
They will play Game 4 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Eastern
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