Backstrom nets OT winner as Capitals defeat Flyers
WASHINGTON -- Nicklas Backstrom scored a power-play goal with 1:35 left in overtime and the Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Saturday night, extending their franchise-record home winning streak to 15 games.
With Michael Del Zotto off for holding, Backstrom took a pass from Kevin Shattenkirk and wristed a shot past Steve Mason from the right circle.
Moments earlier Mason, who finished with 22 saves, had sprawled across the crease and took T.J. Oshie's blast on his mask.
Braden Holtby stopped 30 shots for the Capitals (44-13-7), who have won three straight overall.
Sean Couturier gave the Flyers (30-26-8) a 1-0 lead at 1:19 of the third period. Nick Cousins passed across the ice to Matt Read on the rush and Read centered for Couturier, who redirected the puck past Holtby for his seventh of the season.
The lead was short lived as Dmitry Orlov's blast from just inside the blue line eluded Mason at 2:40 of the third to tie it.
The Flyers were 0-for-6 on the power play and the Capitals finished 1-for-3.
The Flyers outshot the Capitals 7-6 in a scoreless first period that featured few scoring chances until several flurries in the final five minutes.
The second period featured more chances but just as many goals as the first. Philadelphia nearly took a 1-0 lead when Shayne Gotisbehere hit the post during a power play later in the period.
NOTES: Dmitry Orlov has five career goals against the Flyers and 14 versus rest of NHL combined. ... Alex Ovechkin assisted on the game winner, his first point in five games. ... Flyers winger Travis Konecny returned after missing the last nine games with a leg injury. ... Capitals winger T.J. Oshie (upper body injury) was back after missing four games. ... Washington scratches included D Taylor Chorney, D Nate Schmidt and C Paul Carey. ... LW Roman Lyubimov, RW Dale Weise and D Nick Schultz were the Philadelphia scratches.