CAPS GOALIE REPORT: HUET STEADY, BIRON ON A ROLL

Game 2 Highlights



Excerpts from AP Article by Joseph White

……Martin Biron got his third shutout in four games Sunday to lead a 2-0 victory over the Washington Capitals and even their Eastern Conference series at one game apiece.
…… “Everybody always says you want to split, going on the road, after the first two games,” said Biron, who made 24 saves. “We played really well on the road, and now we have to carry that over.”
……Biron kicked Ovechkin’s power-play wrist shot away in the first period, used the handle of his stick to deflect Alexander Semin’s breakaway attempt in the second and sprawled on his back while corralling the puck with his left arm to thwart Dave Steckel in the third. The goalie who ended the regular season with back-to-back shutouts was back in form after allowing five goals in his NHL playoff debut Friday.
……“He made some big saves early,” Flyers center Mike Richards said. “I think three or four of them were point-blank. When a goalie does that, it gives you opportunities and momentum.”
…..The Flyers got all the goals they needed with a pair of odd-man rushes in the first period. Defenseman Braydon Coburn made a long lead pass from his own end to Umberger near the Capitals blue line. Umberger split the defense, which was in disarray following a line change, and beat goaltender Cristobal Huet up high on the breakaway.
……A turnover at center ice led to the second goal. Mike Knuble took the puck from Jeff Green and started a 2-on-1 rush. Huet made a kick save on Knuble’s shot, but Carter was there to chip in the easy rebound.
……Biron took care of the rest, with the help of a defense that cleared nearly every rebound, leaving no garbage-goal opportunities for the Capitals. He and his teammates also killed off all six Washington power plays.
……“I think we did a great job taking away a lot of the shots, their big weapons,” Biron said, “especially when we’re on the penalty kill. We got in front of a lot of pucks out there or by a puck in Game 1, did not play but is a possibility for Game 3. … Capitals D Jeff Schultz played after missing Game 1 with an undisclosed injury.