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[Qbins Missile Crisis]

NHL: Flyers in cruise control?

If not for a third-period breakdown, the Philadelphia Flyers would be returning home to the Wachovia Center with a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Washington Capitals.

Instead, the Flyers return home as slight -130 favorites for Game 3 with the series tied 1-1.

Catch the third game of this series on VERSUS beginning at 7 pm ET. This matchup is followed by Game 4 between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild. Get set for an NHL Playoff doubleheader on the television by checking out all the statistics, betting trends and a complete list of odds and props.

Philadelphia seemed to be in control of Game 1 of this series with a 4-2 lead heading into the third period. Then, Washington defenseman Mike Green got the Caps back into the game early in the third and then tied the game several minutes later.

Alexander Ovechkin iced the game with a game-winning goal with just over four minutes remaining. Philadelphia didn’t let history repeat itself on Sunday as they got out front on two first-period goals and locked down the Capitals the rest of the way to earn the 2-0 victory.

And while the series may be tied 1-1, Flyers backers have to be confident after earning the split. The team now has home-ice advantage and could easily be returning home with a chance to sweep on home ice.

With the exception of the third period of Game 1, the Flyers have looked like the better team so far. While they don’t have a flashy superstar like Ovechkin, Philly’s advantage is depth and they have plenty of it.

The Flyers had six 20-goal scorers in the regular season and 10 players have found their way onto the scoresheet with at least one goal or assist in the first two games. Daniel Briere and Vaclav Prospal lead the team with three points each in the playoffs.

Philadelphia has also done a good job of shutting down Ovechkin in the first two games. The NHL leader with 65 goals and 112 points in the regular season, Ovechkin has one goal and one assist in the first two games. More importantly, he’s -1 in Plus/Minus ration and, with the exception of his goal in Game 1, hasn’t been able to get going against the physical Flyers.

The Capitals desperately need to get their superstar in gear but that could be hard with Philadelphia getting the last line change on home ice. The Flyers will be able to get the matchups they want against Ovechkin and will continue to pound him physically.

Washington also needs some other players to step up. After Ovechkin’s 112 regular season points, the scoring drops off significantly. The team’s second-leading scorer, Niklas Backstrom, had 69 points and the third-leading scorer was defenseman Mike Green, who already has two goals in the postseason.

Goaltender Cristobal Huet also needs to improve his game. Huet, a key acquisition for the Caps at the trade deadline, has stopped just 57 of 63 shots faced and is 13th in save percentage so far in the playoffs.

It’s a big night in the NHL with five playoffs games on the schedule so get your bets in here.