PHILADELPHIA, Pa- After topping the Nashville Predators in an exciting 3-2 shootout victory Saturday afternoon, the Philadelphia Flyers took on the Washington Capitals Sunday, celebrating Hockey in America Day.
Facing off for the final time this season, the Flyers took the two out of the three wins prior to Sunday’s meeting. When the puck last dropped between the clubs on February 8th, Philadelphia took the 3-1 win over Washington.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Earning his second consecutive start after a phenomenal performance against Nashville, Rob Zepp took his stance in between the pipes for the Flyers. Standing in net across ice for Washington, Braden Holtby took the net.
Getting the first power play opportunity early in the first period, the Flyers went to work in Washington’s zone.
Sending the puck top shelf over Holtby’s shoulder, Captain Claude Giroux scored his 17th goal of the season on the man advantage for the early lead.
Guilty of elbowing, Zac Rinaldo was sent to the penalty box, giving the Capitals their first power play chance of the game. Unable to gain control of the puck, Washington did not succeed.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Picking up speed center ice, Sean Couturier and Matt Niskanen made contact. Going down to the ice in pain, Couturier received medial attention. Making his way to the Flyers tunnel, the forward did not put pressure onto his right leg. Being the guilty party, Niskanen was sent to the sin bin for kneeing.
As the horn sounded, pushing and shoving ended the first period with Flyers on top 1-0.
Beginning the second period with 1:30 remaining on the power play, Flyers hoped to increase their lead.
With one second remaining on the man advantage, Capitals Brooks Laich sent Brayden Schenn to the ice after high sticking. Getting another power play chance, Flyers were sent on the power play once again.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Wasting no time, a bouncy puck resulted in Wayne Simmonds rebound. Scoring his 24th goal of the season, Simmonds lit the lamp on the power play.
Starting the rush towards Zepp, John Carlson took the shot. Feeding off Carlson’s rebound, Tom Wilson sent the puck to the back of the net.
With a one goal deficit the game continued on.
Tangled up in front of the Flyers bench, Jason Chimera dropped his gloves against Zac Rinaldo. Keeping his gloves on, Rinaldo was sent to the ice after taking a punch by Chimera. Carted off to the penalty box for fighting and roughing, Chimera took a time out. Fans of the Wells Fargo Center were less than thrilled as Rinaldo made his way to the box. Despite keeping his gloves on, Rinaldo received a fighting major.
Netting in his 14th goal of the season and tying the game, Joel Ward slipped the puck past Zepp.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Turning over the puck in the neutral zone, Ryan White began rushing into Holtby on the breakaway. Making the pad save, the game remained tied at two.
With a slashing call made in the Flyers zone, Mark Streit was the guilty party. As the second period came to a close, Flyers lead the Capitals in shots 20-15.
With 1:43 power play time rolling over to the third period, Washington continued the advantage. Unable to capitalized, the game remained tied.
Coming off the bench and rushing into the Capital’s zone, Michael Del Zotto found the puck on his stick. Sending the puck over Holtby’s shoulder, Del Zotto scored gaining the Flyers lead once again.
A very loud Wells Fargo Center cheered on as the game continued.
Stopping play with less than a minute left in the period, Nick Schultz headed to the penalty box. Having the remainder of the game with their goaltender on the bench, an extra attacker on the ice and a man advantage, the Washington Capitals could not tie the game.
The Philadelphia Flyers took the 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
“It felt great,” said Giroux after snapping his goalless game streak. “We want to be accountable for ourselves and play for our teammates and that’s what we did today,” he continued. “We played for each other. We played smart and that’s how we want to play.”
“This team is very tight, they get along great and they love each other,” Flyers head coach Craig Berube said. “Sometimes it doesn’t transfer onto the ice, but they trust each other, for sure.”
Unhappy where his team stood at the end of the 60 minutes, Ward said, “We had chances and just missed it. It was back and forth, we just couldn’t capitalize at the end.”
What’s up next for the Flyers? They are headed on the road facing the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Returning to the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, the Flyers will face off against the New York Rangers for the 2014-2015 series finale.
Puck drop between the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes is set for 7 p.m.
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