Capitals 4, Flyers 1
WASHINGTON -- Braden Holtby made 41 saves, Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and two assists, and the Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Saturday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their opening-round playoff series.
Jason Chimera scored a fluke goal from center ice and John Carlson and Alex Ovechkin scored power-play goals as Washington again dominated play on special teams.
The Capitals killed off all three Philadelphia power plays and scored both times they had the man-advantage. The Flyers are scoreless in seven power-play chances thus far in the series.
Play resumes Monday night in Philadelphia.
Jakub Voracek pulled the Flyers to within 2-1 in the second period and Steve Mason finished with 19 saves.
Marcus Johansson had his third and fourth assists for the Capitals.
Holtby was again aided by teammates willing to sacrifice their bodies as the Capitals blocked 25 shots.
The Flyers were without second-line center Sean Couturier (upper body injury), who is out for the series after a hard check from Ovechkin in Game 1.
After putting 19 shots on Holtby in all of Game 1, the Flyers matched that total in the first period on Saturday night, though also with nothing to show for it.
Holtby made several point-blank stops during a Flyers five-on-three advantage late in the period.
Washington didn't get a shot on goal for the first six minutes and later Ovechkin missed an open net after a pass through the slot by Backstrom.
However, the Capitals eventually picked up a power play chance and, with the Flyers' Nick Shultz playing without a stick, Carlson fired from the point through a screen and past Mason at 14:09.
Ovechkin registered another bone-crushing hit. In Game 1, he put Couturier out of action with a clean hit along the boards and Saturday night sent Brayden Schenn over the boards and into the Flyers' bench with first-period check.
Less than a minute after Mason went to a split to make a great pad save to rob Carlson early in the second period, the Flyers goalie gave up one from 100 feet that will haunt him for some time.
Karl Alzner cleared the puck from deep in the Washington zone and Chimera deflected it near center ice. The puck slid toward Mason and, when he went to play it, Mason missed it and the puck went through his legs for a goal, leaving him staring up in disbelief.
The Flyers rallied however, notching their first goal nearly 90 minutes into the series. Schenn and Voracek came in on the rush and the puck rolled lose. Washington defenseman Brooks Orpik couldn't control it and Voracek did, sliding it under Holtby's pad at 9:37.
Washington regained the two-goal lead when Ovechkin scored his first goal of the series, one-timing a cross-ice feed from Backstrom past Mason from his power-play home in the left circle with 2:39 left in the period.
NOTES: With second-line C Sean Couturier (upper body injury) out, RW Brayden Schenn slid over to center and RW Sam Gagner moved from the third line to the second. F Scott Laughton made his playoff debut, playing LW on the third line, where Matt Read moved over to RW. ... Flyers C Claude Giroux didn't participate in the morning skate. ... Philadelphia scratched C R.J. Umberger, C Jordan Weal, and D Evgeny Medvedev. ... LW Alex Ovechkin began the night three points shy of passing Dale Hunter (72) for first place on the Capitals' playoff points list. ... Washington scratches included D Mike Weber, RW Stanislav Galiev, C Michael Latta and D Taylor Chorney.