Photo credit: Greg Fiume

One morning during high school, I dressed up like the Devil for Halloween and then got roughed up by a tough guy. I remember cowering on the floor of the hallway, dressed up like an idiot. With our site all decked out in Jaromir Jagr flamebait, I feel the same way.

The Philadelphia Flyers taught the Washington Capitals humility and shame in a 5-1 mauling. All that bravado and confidence from two wins in a row? Evaporated. Flyers beat Caps 5-1.

Goals by Hartnell, Bourdon, Simmonds, Talbot, and Voracek. Jeff Halpern got the Caps on board with a rebound in the third. A few smart tip-ins, a couple unforgivable softies.

• Tomas Vokoun had a pathetic even-strength save percentage: .809. He wasn’t pulled before the third period; the appropriate term is relieved. Michal Neuvirth was a sturdy pro in the scant 20 minutes he played.
• The Flyers looked well tuned despite missing several vital players due to injury. Stick-to-stick passes and lots of leg speed from the white sweaters.
• The Caps did not convert on 3 power plays, which they compounded by allowing several shorthanded chances.
• Ilya Bryzgalov refused whatever scant offense the Caps could summon.
• Joel Ward had puck control issues. Alex Semin was minus-3.  Dennis Wideman fired 5 shots.
• Thank goodness for Jeff Halpern. He’s a rock.
• 14:02 ice time for for de facto 4th liner, Mike Knuble. The guy rarely dipped under 15 minutes before this season.
• This team is a mess.

That’s it for the recap. I’m taking my option. It’s not like you’re enjoying this anyway.

We’re gonna leave this obnoxious site theme up until Wednesday morning. It’ll teach us a lesson about cockiness. Also bandwidth.

Jets on Thursday. Then a date with Varly and the Avs, who are even worse than the Caps somehow.

What the hell are you smiling about, Craig?