Green's Storm Before Calm

Capital Rides Out Emotion of Game 1

Mike Green, like many of his teammates, was nearly overcome with nerves early in his NHL playoff debut Friday night.

The 22-year-old defenseman's heart pounded as the capacity crowd at Verizon Center roared during introductions. His mind raced when he hopped over the boards for his first shift.

Simple plays, all of a sudden, didn't seem so simple.

"I usually don't get nervous," Green said after yesterday's practice. "But I was. There were a lot of feelings and emotions going through me. Things didn't come naturally. I kind of had to force things. And that's not the way to play the game."

But by the end of the second period, the jitters had subsided, and his confidence was rebounding. By the start of the third period, the player who had led all NHL defensemen with 18 goals in the regular season was back.

One of the smoothest skaters and best stick-handlers in the game, Green scored twice in the opening 6 minutes 26 seconds of the third period to key the Capitals' 5-4 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is today at Verizon Center.

"That's what happens when you have a week to prepare," Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau said of Green's early uneasiness. "You go over all this stuff, and you want to be so perfect. You don't want to make a mistake, but you forget to play. Mike was trying to be perfect. But Mike has to be Mike."

Green benefited from the return of Shaone Morrisonn, his usual partner on the blueline. Morrisonn, who had missed the final two games of the regular season because of an upper-body injury, had some calming and reassuring words for Green after a rough opening period.

"I missed Shaone there for a few games," Green said. "It took us the first period. It was myself, too. I needed to calm down. But once we clicked again, it just felt natural. He yells a lot out there and keeps me in line."

Added Morrisonn: "A lot of us were nervous. It was the first NHL playoff game for [12] of us. Green did a great job in the second half of the game. You saw again: He's a great player. He's a game-breaker."

Despite the fact that Alex Ovechkin scored the winner late in the third period, Flyers Coach John Stevens thought his team did a decent job of neutralizing the NHL's leading scorer, who was limited to three shots on goal and none in the opening 40 minutes.