Capitals 5, Flyers 2
PHILADELPHIA -- Left winger Alex Ovechkin did not make history, but the Washington Capitals generated plenty of offense to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center.
Trailing 2-1 in the second period, the Capitals (11-4-0) scored three goals -- two from left winger Jason Chimera -- to seize control and secure their fifth win in the last seven games.
Chimera also finished with an assist for three points, while center Nicklas Backstrom and right wingers T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams potted goals, as well.
Ovechkin had a power-play goal overturned late in the second period on a challenge by Philadelphia coach Dave Hakstol. Williams was called offside following the review, disallowing Ovechkin's marker, which would have made him Russia's No. 1 all-time NHL goal scorer.
He is tied with former center Sergei Fedorov at 483 goals.
The slumping Flyers (5-8-3), who held a players-only meeting after their last loss, have dropped eight of their last nine games. Philadelphia has been outscored 30-14 over that stretch.
Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (9-4-0) needed to make just 20 saves, while Flyers goalie Steve Mason (2-5-2) was not sharp, stopping 27 shots.
The Flyers, who entered with 27 goals -- tied for last in the NHL -- struck first just 3:34 into the game when center Scott Laughton flicked a snap shot from near the circle for his third goal of the season, assisted by center Chris VandeVelde.
But the Capitals got it back midway through the first on a beautiful connection between center Evgeny Kuznetsov and Oshie. Kuznetsov shielded the puck from the blue line to the goal line before dishing a no-look pass to a streaking Oshie behind him for an easy look and tie game.
Philadelphia opened the second period on a power play and made it count. Center Claude Giroux patiently held the puck and then fired a quick wrist shot that found its way through traffic, off the post and into the net to give the Flyers a 2-1 advantage.
Giroux's fifth goal and team-leading 10th point came on a pass from right winger Wayne Simmonds.
However, midway through the second, Washington flipped the margin in its favor with goals from Chimera and Williams.
First, Chimera deposited a bouncing pass from Kuznetsov that split two Flyers defensemen right down the middle, leaving Mason with no chance. Less than a minute later, the Capitals snared their first lead when Williams got in deep and put a rebound past Mason.
Chimera then finished Philadelphia's second-period nightmare with his second goal of the game, a deflection at 17:27, as Washington turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 advantage at second intermission.
NOTES: Flyers G Steve Mason (sick) made his first start since Nov. 2. Over that span, backup G Michal Neuvirth filled in for Mason, who missed four games. ... Capitals D Brooks Orpik was out with a lower-body injury. He was forced to leave Tuesday's game early in the second period and is considered day-to-day. ... Flyers D Evgeny Medvedev returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury and was paired with D Mark Streit. ... Capitals C Chandler Stephenson and RW Stanislav Galiev were healthy scratches. Stephenson has played in nine of the Capitals' 15 games this season. ... Flyers LW Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and C R.J. Umberger remained out with lower-body injuries. Bellemare is considered day-to-day, while Umberger is sidelined 7-10 days. ... Capitals G Braden Holtby made his fifth straight start and seventh in the last eight games.