WASHINGTON - Claude Giroux is ready.
Ready to put the pre-series hype behind him and start the intriguing playoff matchup against heavily favored Washington.
The series starts Thursday at the Verizon Center at 7 p.m.
Giroux, the Flyers' captain, said it will be important for the players to control their emotions, "especially the first 10 minutes. Everybody is kind of running around trying to make a statement or something," he said. "I think it's going to be important for us to keep our composure the first 10, and everything will come back to a normal game.