3-Goal Second Period Sinks Flyers Against Capitals

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers first game out of the All-Star break was a lot like their last game before it. It started with a strong first period and this time the reward for a solid period with goals on the scoreboard to boot.

But the final 40 minutes went a lot like their last game too, by being outplayed by the opponent. The Washington Capitals struck for five goals in the final two periods to take home a 5-3 victory over the Flyers on Wednesday night.

The Flyers opened the scoring as Nolan Patrick finished with a nice move to get his fourth goal of the season just 1:18 into the game.

The Flyers kept the pressure on in the first and got another goal. Sean Couturier powered his way to the net and forced a Capitals defenseman to collide with Braden Holtby. Travis Konecny followed up with the rebound chance and scored to give the Flyers a two-goal lead. It was Konecny's 11th goal of the season and fifth in the last five games.

The Flyers carried the two-goal lead through the first period and had an 11-6 shots advantage after one.

But the lead was short-lived as the second period started. Lars Eller won a race on a possible icing call and threw a shot from a sharp angle that Michal Neuvirth couldn't handle. Chandler Stephenson went to the net and poked the loose puck in to cut the lead to one.

Just 47 seconds later, the Flyers got caught on a line change that led to a breakaway for Stephenson and he slipped a backhand shot through the pads of Neuvirth to tie the game.

The Capitals continued to apply pressure and took advantage of man-advantage opportunities from there. Eller connected with Andre Burakovsky on a centering pass to give the Capitals the lead on a power play at 14:32 of the second period.

Washington carried a 3-2 lead through two periods despite a 23-16 advantage in shots by the Flyers.

The Flyers opened the third period with several strong shifts. But a penalty on Patrick put the Capitals back on the power play with a chance to pad the lead and they took advantage.

Robert Hagg lost his stick and Valtteri Filppula tried to give up his. As this was happening, the Capitals went to work, and Evgeny Kuznetsov threw a centering pass to T.J. Oshie for the one-timer and goal to make it a two-goal game.

Just under four minutes later, the Capitals essentially iced the game as a shot from Christian Djoos hit the skate of Devante Smith-Pelly to make it a three-goal game.

That was the end of the night for Neuvirth, who exited after allowing five goals on 20 shots. Alex Lyon entered for his NHL debut and stopped all five shots he faced.

The Flyers did get one goal back, as Ivan Provorov fired a point shot that deflected off Jake Voracek and in to cut the lead back to two with 9:20 to play. But the Flyers never got any closer, despite pulling the goalie with just under three minutes left. 

Holtby made 28 saves on 30 shots in the win.

Patrick had a goal and an assist for the first multi-point game of his career. Stephenson, Eller and John Carlson each had two-point games for the Capitals.

The Flyers have a quick turnaround, facing the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. Game time is 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• PHI Nolan Patrick (4) (Wayne Simmonds) 1:18
• PHI Travis Konecny (11) (Sean Couturier) 7:50

2nd Period

• WSH Chandler Stephenson (3) (Lars Eller, John Carlson) 2:14
• WSH Stephenson (4) (Madison Bowey) 3:01
• WSH Andre Burakovsky (4) PP (Eller) 14:32

3rd Period

• WSH T.J. Oshie (12) PP (Evgeny Kuznetsov, Carlson) 5:28
• WSH Devante Smith-Pelly (7) (Christian Djoos, Jay Beagle) 9:06
• PHI Jake Voracek (10) (Ivan Provorov, Nolan Patrick) 10:40

Game Statistics