Flyers edge Caps, 4-3, on penalties Flyers tie it late, win on skills competition

PHILADELPHIA – The Flyers’ Owen Tippett  scored with three minutes left in regulation on Thursday to tie the visiting Washington Capitals, 3-3.

The strike forced extra time, which solved nothing.

Bobby Brink was credited with the winning marker on penalties to give the Flyers a 4-3 win.

“We were a little flat to start the game,” Brink said. “Sometimes that happens after a long road trip, but we kept it within reach. We didn’t start well and had a good third there. … It shows that we’re a resilient group. We’ve come back in some games this year and got big points or ended up with a big win. It was definitely nice, and a big game there.”

Samuel Ersson made 27 saves in the win.

The Flyers moved to 16-10-3.

“We weren’t at our best,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “You could tell we were flat. I think the biggest thing is that you admit to yourself that you are flat and just try to change the game a little bit. We were turning too many over. … Find a way to score a couple goals, tied it a couple times.

“So, it’s a good win for us because we need to try to win those games. You’re not always going to be perfect.”

After a scoreless first period, Brink potted a marker to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 2:14 of the middle frame.

The Capitals replied with a pair of goals to take a 2-1 lead.

“I thought we had a lot of good things going for us throughout the game,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “Liked our start, liked our second period. I thought we put ourselves in a good position heading into the third period. … We started to do things that we haven’t done all year playing with the lead. We just, now, we just got back on our heels.”

Connor McMichael scored 46 seconds after the Flyers grabbed the lead, and tie the game, 1-1..

Tom Wilson hit at 15:21 off the power play, to give the Caps a 2-1 advantage.

Washington dropped to 14-8-4.

The Caps held the lead until the Flyers’ Joel Farabee  scored at 5:25 of the third to tie it up, 2-2.

“I felt like the first half of the game wasn’t what we probably wanted to do,” Farabee said. “I thought we were pretty flat. I think something we talked about in the intermission is it’s just one of those games where you just mentally have to get over some hurdles and keep playing. Really liked our battle and perseverance in the third.”

Dylan Strome restored the Capitals lead, 3-2 midway through the third.

“Thought we played hard, played well,” Strome said. “Had timely goals. Just a couple miscues defensively. They tied it up. So, thought we controlled play in overtime. I like our odds if we play like that most nights. … Take some positives and move onto the next one.”

Charlie Lindgren made 29 saves. in the loss.

“I think it’s not what we’re hoping for, just because we’ve got the lead and we’re up 3-2 with two minutes left,” Lindgren said. “Then, they obviously scored the goal from just inside the blue line. Goes through someone’s legs right in front. But I thought, overall, we played a really good road hockey game.”