Flyers fall to Capitals, 4-1
The Flyers celebrated after scoring two goals Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. After video reviews, neither goal counted.
The Flyers celebrated after scoring two goals Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
After video reviews, neither goal counted.
It's been that kind of stretch for the free-falling Flyers.
Second-line center Evgeny Kuznetsov, known for his slick passing, scored two goals as Washington handed the Flyers their sixth loss in the last eight games, 4-1.
"Frustration I think is the word," captain Claude Giroux said. "We have a challenge in front of us, and in the past we've been a team that doesn't back down."
The Capitals (40-12-7) lead the NHL with 87 points.
The Flyers (28-25-7) were the league's best team for one unexpected stretch earlier this season. Remember?
They had a 10-game winning streak, their longest since 1985, from Nov. 27 to Dec. 14.
Since then, they have just 22 points (9-15-4), the league's second-worst total.
That swoon figures to make general manager Ron Hextall a seller before the trade deadline Wednesday.
T.J. Oshie locked up the win when he poked in a rebound with 5 minutes, 17 seconds left to put the Caps ahead, 4-1. Michal Neuvirth got up slowly and appeared injured but waved off trainer Jim McCrossin.
It was the 24th goal for Oshie, a potential free agent who played for Flyers coach Dave Hakstol at North Dakota.
The Flyers had a 34-29 shots advantage, won 66 percent of the faceoffs, and outhit the Caps, 35-31.
"Our effort was good from start to finish," Hakstol said.
But they couldn't finish their chances, a habit that has lasted more than two months.
Kuznetsov scored a freak goal with 2:01 left in the second period to push the Caps' lead to 3-1.
After a ragged Flyers power play ended, the Capitals created an odd-man rush that ended when Kuznetsov's left-circle pass deflected off defenseman Radko Gudas' stick and went between the legs of goalie Michal Neuvirth.
It was Kuznetsov's second goal of the night and 14th of the season.
Earlier in the stanza, defenseman Brandon Manning - who had a turnover-plagued first period - helped create a goal that got the Flyers to within 2-1 with 13:06 left in the second.
Manning hustled toward the boards to keep the puck in the zone near the blue line, then fired a shot that Brayden Schenn tipped past Braden Holtby for his 19th goal and his fifth at even strength.
About three minutes earlier, the Flyers had their second goal of the game negated by a video review. Rookie Ivan Provorov, shooting as he was falling down in the left circle, scored his sixth goal of the season.
The horn went off. The Flyers celebrated. They were within 2-1.
Check that.
Replays showed the shot hit the crossbar, so the Capitals maintained their 2-0 lead.
The Flyers got off to the start they wanted, but it turned out to be a mirage.
Jake Voracek's goal, deposited on a rebound 23 seconds into the game, was disallowed after Washington challenged the score. Dale Weise pushed Holtby before the goal was scored, replays showed.
Weise strongly disagreed with the call.
"To be honest I was trying to brace myself [on Holtby] so I didn't bull him over, and it comes back the other way," Weise said. "I don't know what else to do. I'm trying to poke the puck with one hand and brace myself so I don't hit him."
After Voracek's apparent score, Weise said, "the building's lively, we score what we think is the first goal, something we haven't done a lot of this year. I'm not going to say it's a game-changer, but it's a pretty big part of the game. I don't think I touched him that hard."
Before the first period ended, Washington had a 2-0 lead on goals by Nicklas Backstrom and Kuznetsov (power play). Neuvirth had no chance on either well-placed tracer.
Manning''s turnover led to Backstrom's goal, his 18th, while Kuznetsov scored the Capitals' 19th power play goal in the last 20 games.
The teams had split two earlier games this season. The Flyers recorded a 3-2 shootout win Dec. 21 at the Wells Fargo Center, and the Capitals responded with a 5-0 home victory Jan. 15.
For the fading Flyers, things don't get any easier. They will play the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night at Heinz Field.
@BroadStBull