Voracek lifts Flyers to overtime win over Capitals

The last three games have been games to forget for the Flyers. Twice, the Flyers suffered defeat in the final two minutes. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in Pittsburgh last Thursday, the Flyers allowed three goals in the second and never recovered.

The Flyers jumped out to a similar lead to start their final game before the All-Star break on Wednesday in Washington. Against the NHL's best, the lead would be short-lived once the Capitals got going.

But in the end, the Flyers determined defense in the closing stages of regulation and a highlight-reel goal by Jake Voracek gave the Flyers a much-needed 4-3 win over the Capitals in Washington.

The Flyers capitalized on an early power play, taking just six seconds to strike on the man-advantage. Shayne Gostisbehere threaded a pass to Wayne Simmonds, who found a wide open Brayden Schenn in the slot. Schenn fired high over Braden Holtby to open the scoring at 4:54.

The Flyers struck again just past the halfway point of the first. A turnover by Evgeny Kuznetsov set up Ryan White for a one-timer that beat Holtby. It was his fifth goal of the season.

The Flyers outshot the Capitals, 12-6, in the first period.

Washington came roaring back in the second, taking the first nine shots of the period. They would finally break through at 7:39.

Off a turnover, Andre Burakovsky had plenty of time from the slot to fire a high shot past Michal Neuvirth, cutting the lead to one.

Just 55 seconds later, T.J. Oshie made a great centering pass to Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom shot hit the shoulder of Neuvirth and went in, tying the game at 8:34.

The Flyers would not get a shot in the second until the 13:45 mark and on their first scoring chance of the period, drew a penalty. They did not score on the power play, but the opportunity seemed to wake the Flyers up a bit.

Just over a minute after the power play, the Flyers would retake the lead right off a faceoff. A win on the draw for Claude Giroux put the puck on the stick of Voracek, who quickly fired a high, hard shot past an unsuspecting Holtby. It was Voracek's seventh of the season.

Despite being outshot 11-6 in the second, the Flyers had the lead going to the final period.

The Capitals came charging back early in the third and would tie the game again at 3:55. Some poor puck control and bad bounces went against the Flyers, as Kuznetsov centered for Burakovsky who scored his second of the game to tie things up.

The Flyers had to survive the rest of the third, including a penalty kill in the final two minutes against the NHL's top power play, to force overtime.

In the overtime, it took only 38 seconds for Voracek to end it with a spectacular goal on a turnaround shot to the top right corner of the net.

Neuvirth made 27 saves in the win. Holtby made 28 saves in the loss.

The win for the Flyers also snapped a 12-game home winning streak for the Capitals. Washington is 18-3-2 on home ice.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Flyers as they head into the All-Star break. They will return to the ice next Tuesday when they host the Montreal Canadiens. Game time is set for 7 p.m. from Wells Fargo Center.

Scoring Summary

• 1st Period
  • PHI Brayden Schenn (12) PP (Wayne Simmonds, Shayne Gostisbehere) – 4:54
  • PHI Ryan White (5) (Unassisted) – 11:11
• 2nd Period
  • WSH Andre Burakovsky (6) (Nate Schmidt) – 7:39
  • WSH Nicklas Backstrom (16) (T.J. Oshie, Karl Alzner) – 8:34
  • PHI Jake Voracek (7) (Claude Giroux) – 17:39
• 3rd Period
  • WSH Andre Burakovsky (7) (Evgeny Kuznetsov) – 3:55
• Overtime
  • PHI Jake Voracek (8) (Shayne Gostisbehere, Claude Giroux) – 0:38

Penalty Summary

• 1st Period
  • WSH Tom Wilson – 2:00 interference – 4:48
  • PHI Jake Voracek – 2:00 unsportsmanlike conduct (embellishment) – 7:08
  • WSH Nicklas Backstrom – 2:00 holding – 7:08
  • PHI Bench Minor – 2:00 too many men on the ice – 16:33
  • WSH Matt Niskanen – 2:00 tripping – 19:47
• 2nd Period
  • WSH Braden Holtby – 2:00 tripping – 14:11
  • WSH Braden Holtby – 2:00 delay of game – 17:48
• 3rd Period
  • WSH Alex Ovechkin – 2:00 hooking – 5:10
  • PHI Matt Read – 2:00 hooking – 17:58
• Overtime
  • No penalties

Game Statistics

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.