|
 The Washington Capitals were one period away from owning a
playoff spot for the first time since Jan. 18.
Third-period goals by right winger Jakub Voracek and center Claude
Giroux set the stage for center Vincent Lecavalier's game-winning
goal 2:45 into overtime, giving the Flyers a dramatic 5-4 win over
the Capitals at Verizon Center.
"I think the momentum was on our side," Lecavalier said after
relishing his 900th career NHL point. "We played the (third period)
the way we know how to play."
The win moves the Flyers two points ahead of the Capitals in the
Metropolitan Division standings while snapping Washington's
four-game win streak.
The Capitals received a pair of goals from defenseman Dmitry Orlov,
but it was Orlov's five-minute boarding penalty on Flyers center
Brayden Schenn that turned the momentum in the Flyers' favor.
Washington was leading 4-2 when Orlov drove Schenn into the boards
about 15 seconds after taking a hit from Schenn behind the Caps'
net.
"We had a two-goal lead," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. "You get
hit behind the net -- hard. That's their guy's job. I understand you
want to pay back, but you've got to be disciplined. I'm not saying
it was a five-minute board, but he definitely retaliated and you
can't do that."
The Flyers used the extended advantage to close within 4-3 with 8:02
remaining in the third period when Voracek blasted a one-timer past
Braden Holtby for his 16th goal of the season and sixth on the power
play.
The Capitals killed off the remainder of the major penalty but
Giroux sent the game into overtime when he deflected a Voracek shot
past Holtby for his second goal of the game and 21st goal of the
season with 1:05 remaining in regulation.
That set the stage for Lecavalier ripping a wrist shot past Holtby's
outstretched catching glove for his 14th goal of the season and
third game-winner with the Flyers.
[to top of second column]
|
"I think the whole game we played good," said Giroux, who finished
with two goals and one assist. "They have guys that can score a lot
of goals. We just kept playing the same way."
The teams face off for the fifth and final time this season on
Wednesday night in Philadelphia.
Orlov opened the scoring when he blasted a pass by right winger Troy
Brouwer past Flyers goaltender Steve Mason just 6:06 into the game.
Giroux answered on the power play, but Capitals center Marcus
Johansson restored the Caps' one-goal lead later in the first
period.
A shorthanded goal by right winger Adam Hall tied it again for the
Flyers, but second-period goals by center Jay Beagle and Orlov gave
the Capitals what appeared to be a commanding two-goal lead.
Capitals center Eric Fehr said Washington has to turn the other
cheek when the two teams meet again on Wednesday.
"They are going to try to intimidate you and we just need to play
our game," he said. "That is not the style we play. We don't try to
intimidate teams, we try to out-skill teams, outwork teams and score
goals that way "
NOTES: It was the final game for both teams before the NHL trade
deadline on Wednesday. Capitals RW Alex Ovechkin and C Nicklas
Backstrom combined for four goals and five assists in their first
two games after returning from the Sochi Olympics but were held off
the scoresheet and were a minus-4 against the Flyers. ... Flyers D
Kimmo Timonen played in his 500th game as a Flyer. ... Philadelphia
RW Adam Hall netted his fourth goal of the season in the second
period. In his two previous seasons in the NHL he had just two goals
in 94 games. ... Capitals C Mikhail Grabovski missed his second
straight game with an ankle injury. ... Flyers G Ray Emery remains
sidelined by a lower body injury.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
