jason pugh joins us live in philly with the big win. everybody can breathe a little easier now, jay. >> reporter: yeah, that's right, erika. the players, the coaches, they were just fine. they handled the pressure excellent against the flyers. they didn't want this series to drag on any longer to a game seven. game six, oh, it was a wild one. philly just looking to stay alive. let's skip ahead now. we are scoreless in the second period. caps pushing the puck up the ice. alex ovechkin to marcus johansson. this caps team did not want to see a game seven. >> they battled back pretty hard, but again we found a way to score one goal and keep the lead and win the game. >> i think we've just kind of reassured the fact that we know we can stay focused, we know we can battle through some adversity. that's been probably our calling card this scene is we've been able to fight back in games and play hard no matter what the situation. >> reporter: so the capitals avoid the nerves and the pressure of a game seven against the philadelphia flyers. next

jason pugh says nobody is getting too excited just yet. >> reporter: good morning, everyone. if you're a capitals fan, it's a great morning after a 2-0 victory over the flyers here thursday night at verizon center, the capitals now lead the series with philadelphia 1-0. carlson's slap shot gave washington the 1-0 lead late in the second appeared and another goal was added in the third as ho holpe earned the shutout. players pleased, when you not yet celebrating. >> a pig me up to start us off and only game one. we have a long ways ahead of ourselves. and obviously get that we won, but come back done to earth and get ready for the next battle. >> a big goal. can't get wrapped up in one game. less emotion you put into it that way, leaves the information better off you are. >> reporter: game two will come your way saturday night at the verizon center. puck drops at 7:00. you can watch it on comcast sports net. jason pugh, news4 sports. >> the least expensive tickets right now for tomorrow's game going for about $140 and they can go up into the thousands. >> i'm just excited we w

jason pugh has more. >> reporter: the capitals were back at practice getting set for the second round series against the penguins. the two superstars, sidney crosby and alex >> it's crosby versus ovechkin, that's a good story line for you guys, but in reality it's disrespectful to every player in there. everybody in there has contributed a lot to the success of both teams. you don't have success with one person. you have success with a group. to me it's the washington capitals and the penguins going head to head. >> it will be a great series for everybody, for players, fans, you guys. great rivalry. two good teams playing against each other in the second round. looking forward to it. they're a great team. great players. it's a challenge. >> now some very good news for capitals fans today. one of the top defensemen, brooks orpik was back in practice with his teammates. he was injured against the philadelphia flyers in game three i'm jason pugh. >>> the newly released video that shows police rush to try to rescue a car ranking from top to bottom. car company of the year? luxury cars jus

have the verizon center, jason pugh, news 4 sports. >>> you can see behind us a dreary, rainy start. giving facebook live chat. >> a sneak peek of the sun coming out later. >> by mid-afternoon and a lot of things going on outside today. people begging for that, but allergy suffers thrilled this rain is coming through. had high pollen counts the last couple of days. highest of the season so far, but it's really getting helped out with the pollen washing rains getting now and the storm team 4 radar, you can see it is tracking from the north to the south and those areas are moving colors mostly light rain. where you see the yellow, coming down harder. getting moderate showers now. right near front royal and along 66. all the way from 81 to the you see in green. montgomery county, the district, about to move into prince george's county and charles county, stafford and spotsylvania over the next hour or so. right now hovering around low 60s, and around the bay near 60 north and west. pollen count lowered a lot. still mostly oak tree pollen and exercise forecast for this saturday, wait unt

our jason pugh got a chance to sit down and talk to the falcons about their big week ahead. >> reporterch player for the fairfax falcons has an incredible story. >> normal. >> i was diagnosed with a condition called building heart syndrome. it affected my hearing, my vision and my spine. >> i was born with cerebral palsy. the doctor said i wasn't going to live. but i lived anyways. and here i am. >> reporter: this program has given these young people a place to build relationships they normally wouldn't have. >> the things that he can't do with the regular high school team, this gives him an opportunity to get out there and just be himself and to open up and make a lot of new friends. >> it's cool seeing the program where it is right now. it's cool seeing the growth when we started volunteering, there were only three or four kids on the team. and now we're up to 27 kids. it's really cool kind of seeing everything take off. >> reporter: this week the falcons will head to louisville, kentucky, for the national wheelchair tournament. putting their skills to the ultimate test. >> and i'm re

jason pugh went to the verizon center for the game. >> reporter: good morning, everyone. if you're a capitals fan, it's a great morning after a 2-0 victory over the flyers here thursday night at verizon center, the capitals now lead the series with philadelphia 1-0. carlson's slap shot gave washington the 1-0 lead late in the second appeared and another goal was added in the third as holtby earned the shutout. players pleased, but not yet celebrating. >> a pick me up to start us off and only game one. we have a long ways ahead of ourselves. and obviously get that we won, but come back down to earth and get ready for the next battle. >> a big goal. can't get wrapped up in one game. less emotion you put into it that way, leaves the information for in between the whistles, the better off you are. >> reporter: game two will come your way saturday night at the verizon center. puck drops at 7:00. you can watch it on comcast sports net. jason pugh, news4 sports. >>> caps could almost play outside this morning, it's that cold in some places. but what will things leak by the time

we move on to philadelphia where our own jason pugh is standing by live. i am hering when o.v.alked in, he was booed, and then today he was encouraged to beat the pens. >> reporter: i think everyone walks into the wells fargo center is booed. i was booed. they booed everybody. they do that and they throw things from time to time, but it did not bother the capitals. this teamai they stayed the course. >> when i first stepped behind the bench, i felt that there was a little bit of nervousness in tight games. i think we've come full circle where we're comfortable being uncomfortable. >> we're a completely different team. we're not buying into any of the past history of what washington's playoffs. >> obviously getting a good start, that was obviously huge. trying to take it to them in their building. you know, it was a fun game. those are fun games to be a part of. >> reporter: so the caps close it out. next up for them, the pittsburgh penguins. that should be a great series. i'll send it back to studio. >> we're waiting for the nhl to release the schedule for round two. >>> it is

jason pugh joins us more. we learneded that first round opponent. the flyers. starts next week. how much do you expect the caps to concentrate on beating the ducks tonight? >> well, carroll, they obviously care about the game. you want to go into the postseason playing some good hockey. the capitals want to beat the ducks tonight. they'll be without braden holtby, he will not get the start in net according to barry trotz. phillip will start at goaltender tonight. holtby will not have a chance to break the record for most wins in a season by marty brodeur. he tied the record last night in st. louis and will settle for the tie. we'll see how that works out. no shortage of a team in st. louis, you see ovechkin lighting up the score sheet with his second hat trick of the season. now at the 50-goal mark for the seventh time in his career joining gretsky and mike bossy as the only three to do that in nhl history. holtby tying brodeur for the most in a single season in nhl history. he did it in front of brodeur who is a assistant general manager for the blues. everyone knows how truly

jason pugh is next.e, everybody.a time magazine called chris van hollen "a hero to environmentalists, education groups, and gun control advocates" for his accomplishments as a young legislator. now a respected leader in congress and key ally of president obama, protecting planned parenthood and social security... chris van hollen is the only candidate who fought the wall street banks and the nra...and won. that's why he's endorsed by the post as the "talented successor" to senator mikulski who will "deliver results." i'm chris van hollen, and i approve this message. >>> tonight on "sports final" -- >> to be on the mound for game one, it's really special. >> matt scherzer's new manager is still trying to figure him out. >> i was warning him to look at one eye or the other. don't look at both, i was told. >>> a road trip out west ends on a sour note. >>> plus one of the best basketball teams in our area also with one of the most inspirational stories. >> they know what i've been through and i

from the verizon center, jason pugh, news 4 sports. >>> okay. early sprinkles this morning in some parts. >> yeah. you can see a lot of clouds behind us. a few breaks in the clouds, though, on the eastern horizon. sun trying to break out but not making it out until this afternoon. right now looking at union station. live view from the capitol camera showing the flag flapping in a gentle breeze that will shift to the north and west and get a little gusty getting into the afternoon hours. storm team 4 radar showing more rain. off to the north and west. it is tracking southeast pulling from hagerstown towards frederic. another batch, shenandoah valley, panhandle west virginia, loudon county, prince william, montgomery over the next hour. into the district over the next hour or so. temperatures in the 50s just about everywhere. low 60s in washington, near 60 around the shes pique bchesapea. the pollen washed out. pollen count lower, tree pollen mostly oak. notice relief for allergy sufferers. plan to get exercise in, dodging a shower from now until

jason pugh is at verizon center. what do you think? are they going to bring it tonight? >> reporter: i think they will bring it tonight. i think they close the door on all season long they haven't panicked when they get behind, but i think if they were to jump out to an early lead, they'd really put the pressure on philadelphia. this game will be a critical one. closeout games always difficult. it is great to have your best player leading the way in closeout games. that's exactly what captain alex ovechkin plans to do in game five. the caps are 35-5-2 when ov scores. ovechkin still believes this caps team doesn't have much to worry about in this series. >> we're in control of our destiny at this moment, so we have to play hard, play simple, and play smart. don't give them many chances in the beginning. we have to dictate how we have to play. not them. >> reporter: the capitals, they were stymied goaltender. they have to get to him early to have a chance tonight and close out this series here at the verizon center. that's going to do it for me. send it back to you guys in

. >> and jason pugh is here to tell us about the big week ahead for the fairfax falcons. jason? >> jim and wendy, over the last two decades, the fairfax falcons paralympic sports teams have allowed young people to live out their dreams through athletics. this year both the prep and varsity wheelchair basketball teams have reached the pinnacle of their sport. falcons has an incredible story. >> it's like i can walk like normal. >> i was diagnosed with a condition. it affected my hearing, my vision, and my spine. >> reporter: i was born with cerebral palsy. the doctors said i wasn't going to live but i live anyways and here i am. >> reporter: this program has given these young people a place to build relationships they normally wouldn't have. >> things he can't do with the regular high school teams, this gives him an opportunity to get out there and just be himself and to open up and make a lot of new friends. >> it means a whole lot. it's cool seeing the program where it is right now. it's cool seeing the growth. when we started volunteering there were only three or four kids on

carol maloney and jason pugh are live at verizon center. is that the place to really rock tonight, guys? >> oh, yeah, you know it. 311 straight sellouts here at verizon center. it's going to be a fever pitch tonight as it is finally here. playoff season. jason, i know you can't wait. it feels like forever. >> final month of the regular season seemed like it drug on for the capitals. this place should be electric tonight, carol, and its head coach barry trotz explains there is nothing quite like the nhl playoffs. >> it hits a fever pitch that can't be replicated. i don't think it can be replicated in any sport. i really don't. you know, a lot of sports have one game showdowns, but seven games is a monster. it's the best time of the year. it's the best time for the fans. it's the best time for coaches and players, and that's a good feeling. >> and, of course, it's going to be even more fun if they just start off with a win. expectations are high. the playoffs are a different animal and anything can happen and that's what makes it so exhilarat

jason pugh joining us with what we need to know about the first-round match-up. >> the capitals proved to be the best team in hockey during the regular season but going forward into the stanley cup playoffs we know the regular season doesn't matter all that much, but this team completely understands the challenge that lies in front of them. a very exciting time. playoff preparations already under way at the verizon center. stanley cup playoff logos. this capitals team wrapped up everything a few weeks ago. they have been trying to find ways to stay motivated. the playoffs is exactly what this group has been waiting for. >> these games mean a lot, and everybody is ready to rock and come first game of playoffs it will be all in. >> it's do or die. that switch has got to be flipped and got to be excited every game. we're excited to see what we can do. >> for us it's focusing on what has made us successful and what's going to and that's just being our ourselves, being the capitals. >> let's look at the schedule between these two teams. game one comes your way this thursday at verizon. then

. >> oh, it's a big day in the sports world and news4's jason pugh is here now with more on it. you're in your element, buddy. >> absolutely right, jim. it might be cloudy here in the nation's capital but it's sunny out in atlanta. that's why the nationals are kicking off the season under dusty baker. opening day and it did not take long for the fireworks to start. bryce harper at the dish here for the nats. and harper, he will send this ball into the right field seats. a solo home run, his fourth opening day home run and the third straight year he's hit one. right now the nationals and braves are tied up in the sixth inning at two apiece. also happening tonight, the national championship game between the university of north carolina and villanova. tons of local flavor in this match-up. chris jenkins and nate brit from gonzaga high school and josh hart from sidwell friends. jenkins and hart they play for nova, while britt will suit up for the tar heels. the championship game tips off at 9:19. >>> the most recognizable star in u.s. women's soccer is in trouble with the law. abby

jason pugh is next. have great one, everybody.a time magazine called chris van hollen "a hero to environmentalists, education groups, and gun control advocates" for his accomplishments as a young legislator. now a respected leader in congress and key ally of president obama, protecting planned parenthood and social security... chris van hollen is the only candidate who fought the wall street banks and the nra...and won. that's why he's endorsed by the post as the "talented successor" to senator mikulski who will "deliver results." i'm chris van hollen, and i approve this message.