Flyers hammer Capitals in home opener
PHILADELPHIA -- Forwards Sean Couturier, Scott Laughton and Claude Giroux each netted a pair of goals and Jakub Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere each recorded three assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a home-opening 8-2 rout over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
It was the Flyers' largest margin of victory over the Capitals since a 7-1 win on Dec. 20, 2008, in Philadelphia. It was also the first time the Capitals allowed eight goals in regulation since an 8-1 defeat in Pittsburgh on Jan. 25, 2006.
Wayne Simmonds and Valtteri Filppula also scored for the Flyers (3-2-0) and goaltender Brian Elliott turned aside 21 of 23 shots to earn his third win in his first season.
Rookie left winger Jakub Vrana and veteran center Nicklas Backstrom each scored goals for the Capitals (3-2-1), who have lost three of their last four games after opening the season with two wins. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer (0-1-1) took the loss, allowing eight goals on 37 shots.
The Capitals entered the game having taken at least one point from the Flyers in each of their previous eight meetings (5-0-3). But with veteran Matt Niskanen missing his first game with an upper-body injury, Washington played with two rookie defensemen in its lineup and it showed.
Playing their first game following a 2-2-0 road trip, the Flyers built a 2-1 lead on first-period goals by Couturier and Laughton. Laughton's goal was the Flyers' first short-handed score of the season and came after he intercepted a pass by Washington defenseman John Carlson.
Grubauer gambled by leaving his net and attempting a poke check, but Laughton held onto the puck and tucked it into an open net. It was one of many setbacks for Grubauer.
Capitals rookie defenseman Madison Bowey had difficulty in his NHL debut, getting turned around on a second-period goal by Simmonds and finishing a minus-2.
Capitals forwards Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov, who entered the game tied for the team lead with 10 points, each finished with a minus-4 rating.
NOTES: Capitals D Matt Niskanen was placed on long-term injured reserve after suffering an upper-body injury Friday night against the New Jersey Devils. Niskanen, who appeared to injure his left hand on a check into the boards, is not expected to need surgery but must miss at least 10 games or 24 days before returning to the lineup. With Niskanen sidelined, D Madison Bowey, 22, made his NHL debut for the Capitals. Taken 53rd overall in the 2013 draft, Bowey played on a third pairing with fellow rookie D Christian Djoos. Niskanen's normal defense partner, Dmitry Orlov, played alongside Aaron Ness. ... Flyers D Brandon Manning, a healthy scratch the previous three games, returned to the lineup on a third defense pairing with Radko Gudas. Manning replaced rookie D Travis Sanheim. ... The Capitals return home to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. ... The Flyers continue their five-game homestand Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers.