Last night the Caps went to Philadelphia, gave up two quick goals and then scored four of their own to tie up their best of seven playoff series at three apiece. Tonight they face the Flyers at home in the Phone Booth for the tiebreaker.

Last night’s game showcased the Caps’ two biggest talents, with Alexander Semin and Alexander Ovechkin each contributing two points. Semin set up Nicklas Backstrom for the team’s first goal, before knocking home a rebound on a vicious John Erskine slapshot to tie the game at two. Ovechkin, who has been defended like the superstar that he is all series, finally found open ice to score on a rare breakaway and then again on a one-timer from the top of the left circle.

This series has been as violent and physical as we predicted. This befits a matchup between this year’s biggest team (Capitals) and its most frequently suspended (Flyers, mostly for distributing concussions). As the winner of tonight’s game will advance to the next round and the loser will not, tonight should be especially intense. While Caps games throughout the end of the regular season were notable for their fast pace and quick transitions, fans tonight should be ready for sustained shoving matches, punctuated by frequent face-punches, copious stick-beatings and occasional snippets of brilliant hockey. In other words, a great playoff game between two excellent young teams, certainly not to be missed.