With an offense boasting the likes of Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and Nicklas Backstrom, the Washington Capitals have no shortage of firepower up front. So when the puck dropped on their first-round playoff series with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Caps had plenty of candidates to get the offense off and running. But the series' first goal came from a somewhat unlikely source.
Just 3:16 into Game One, Tom Poti fired a slap shot from the left point. Philadelphia's Martin Biron was able to make the save, but he coughed up a big rebound to an even bigger man. Washington tough guy Donald Brashear was at the right spot at the right time, snapping the puck over Biron for the first goal of the series.
The 6'2", 235-pound Brashear is hardly known for his offense. In 926 career NHL games, Brashear has 84 goals and 200 points compared to a whopping 2,440 penalty minutes. He's known for punching out opponents not punching home goals. His tally against the Flyers gives him just three goals and nine points in 56 career postseason games.
Brashear's value can't be measured in goals and points. He's a heavy hitter and a fearsome fighter, providing protection for Washington's skill players. It was thought the Flyers, known for questionable physical tactics, would take certain liberties with Ovechkin and crew. However, with Brashear around, things stayed relatively calm. He didn't have to drop the gloves even once. The goal was just icing on the cake.
