The Flyers' Kimmo Timonen had held Alexander Ovechkin without a goal in the series when he was on the ice against him. Until last night.

The defenseman's third-period turnover led to a critical goal from the Russian superstar as the Washington Capitals forced a Game 7 tonight in Washington with a 4-2 victory at the Wachovia Center. The Caps tied the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at three games apiece.

"I tried to get the puck to the net, and I think [the puck] hit [Ovechkin's] shaft, a kind of a lucky break for him," Timonen said. "I got to make sure it doesn't hit the [stick] the next time. That was a big goal for him."

After Timonen's shot hit Ovechkin's stick, it went to Viktor Kozlov. By then, Ovechkin was already wheeling toward the Flyers' blue line, looking for a breakaway pass. Ovechkin, who came in with just one goal in the series, backed goalie Marty Biron into the back of the net, beating him glove side with a wrister for a 3-2 Caps lead.

One could sense the Flyers were done.

"He is a good player, and he is going to get his goals," Biron said.

Ovechkin had gone four games between goals - the second-longest scoring drought for him this season.

"Everyone said that we are a young team, and then we won one. And everybody said it's only one game, and then [the series] is done," Ovechkin said. "It's not over yet. [Tonight] we have the biggest game in our career."

Needless to say, those Flyers jerseys figure to be a little snug around the neck this evening at the Verizon Center.

Biron was 0-5 in back-to-back games this season, with a 5.95 goals-against average and .822 save percentage.

So how do the Flyers prevent doubt from creeping into their minds after twice failing to close out the series they led three games to one?

"We need some time to think about this," said coach John Stevens. "We'll find out what we're made of" tonight.

Not only did the Flyers blow a two-goal lead for the second time in the series, but they also muffed several scoring chances during a 49-second five-on-three power play midway through the final period. They also took three penalties that period.

"We had opportunities to get right back in that game with a four-on-three and five-on-three and didn't take advantage of it," Stevens said.

It was 2-2 going into that tense third period.

"The good thing is we're playing right away and there's not too much time to think about it," Danny Briere said.

Briere twice could not get a handle on a puck with an open shot staring at him during the two-man advantage.

The Flyers went into the game with just four power-play goals on 25 chances but scored twice on their first two attempts of the game. They took a 2-0 lead on goalie Cristobal Huet on goals by Richards and Briere.

"When we're down 2-0, there's still 35, 30 minutes to play, and that's a long time," said Capitals center Brooks Laich, who had two assists. "We never panicked."

The Flyers didn't panic. They gave it away.

"Opportunity missed, and opportunity given away," Richards said.

Washington got back into the game on Nicklas Backstrom's third goal at 9:34 of the second period.

Alexander Semin made it a 2-2 contest in the final 1:57.

"We haven't lost yet. We have to refocus and go" tonight, Timonen said. "It's one game. Winner goes to next round. No excuses anymore."