Just as it did on Tuesday, another game came down to the final moments for the Flyers. Just as they did on Tuesday, they found a way to win.
A power play in overtime gave the Flyers a chance to make something happen. They wasted no time. Just 17 seconds into the power play, Jake Voracek fired a one-timer that deflected past Braden Holtby to give the Flyers a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center.
The Capitals opened the scoring early in the first with a power-play goal. After a slashing penalty on Michael Del Zotto, Alex Ovechkin fired a shot past Steve Mason for the first goal of the game at 3:08.
The Flyers would answer mid-way through the first. A shot by Nick Schultz deflected off Matt Read and caromed right to Sean Couturier. Couturier quickly threw it past Holtby to even the score. It was Couturier's 10th goal of the season.
It was an uneventful second period until the closing minutes. The Flyers and Capitals both generated scoring chances in the closing minutes with the Flyers earning a power play as the period came to a close.
A pair of fortunate bounces helped the score even out in the third.
The Capitals took the lead at 3:08 of the third as a shot by Karl Alzner deflected off Nicklas Backstrom and in. The Flyers tied the game just 1:14 later as a shot by Schultz bounced off the end boards and into the slot right to R.J. Umberger who buried it to tie the game at two.
The Flyers had a late power play in the third period but failed to score despite taking five shots.
In overtime, a hooking penalty on Matt Niskanen gave the Flyers a power play. Claude Giroux set up Voracek for a one-timer from the top of the right circle that deflected off of Capitals defenseman beat Holtby and gave the Flyers the win.
Mason made 26 saves in the win. Schultz and Read each had two assists.
Nick Grossmann suffered an upper-body injury near the end of the first period and did not return. Mason also appeared to be laboring following a series of saves on a Washington power play late in the first but returned for the second.
The Flyers return to action on Saturday afternoon as they continue the homestand against the Boston Bruins. The opening face-off is set for 1 p.m.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
