Flyers Snap Skid with Gritty Win Over Capitals in South Philly
The Philadelphia Flyers needed this one. After a stretch of games where the wheels looked like they might be wobbling, they tightened the bolts and pulled off a gutsy 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t always pretty, but it was the kind of win that can recalibrate a team’s confidence - especially against a division rival.
Vladar Stands Tall in Net
Dan Vladar got the nod in goal and delivered the kind of performance the Flyers were hoping for as he continues to work his way back from injury. He faced 28 shots and turned away all but two, including a handful of high-danger chances that could’ve easily swung the momentum the other way. Rebounds were an issue - more than a few pucks came off his pads with a little too much life - but to his credit, he cleaned up his own messes and gave the Flyers a chance to stay ahead.
On the other end, Washington went with Clay Stevenson, making just his fourth NHL start. He gave up three goals on 22 shots, and while he wasn’t overwhelmed, his rebound control left a lot to be desired.
The Flyers had several golden chances off loose pucks in the crease but couldn’t fully capitalize. Still, Stevenson did enough to keep the Capitals in it until late.
Discipline Pays Off
A big part of the Flyers’ win? Discipline.
Nicolas Deslauriers took a tripping penalty less than three minutes into the game - and that was it for the night. Against a team with Alex Ovechkin lurking on the power play, staying out of the box is half the battle.
The Flyers didn’t give Washington a single power-play opportunity after that early infraction, and it paid off.
Tippett Opens the Scoring
Owen Tippett got the Flyers on the board first, scoring his 19th of the season just under six minutes into the first period. It was a slick move - across the slot, forehand to backhand, and tucked past Stevenson. Tippett continues to be one of Philly’s most dynamic offensive threats, and this goal was another reminder of what he brings to the top six.
From there, it was a back-and-forth affair. The Capitals pushed hard, and Vladar had to come up with a flurry of saves to keep the Flyers ahead. Despite giving up some juicy rebounds, he stayed composed and didn’t let the pressure crack him.
A Lucky Bounce, Then a Costly Mistake
Early in the second, Deslauriers - not exactly known for his offensive production - picked up his first assist of the season with a feed to Carl Grundstrom near the crease. Grundstrom’s attempted pass deflected off a Washington skate and into the net. It was the kind of greasy goal you love if you’re wearing orange and black, and it gave the Flyers a 2-0 cushion.
But that lead didn’t last long. Midway through the period, the Flyers were on the power play when Aleksei Protas jumped a 2-on-1 shorthanded break and buried one to cut the lead to 2-1. It was a momentum swing the Flyers didn’t need - and a reminder that even with the man advantage, mistakes can be costly.
Brink’s Almost-Goal, Then Beauvillier Strikes
Bobby Brink nearly restored the two-goal lead with a breakaway chance that had goal written all over it. He beat Stevenson cleanly - high glove side - but the puck caught both the crossbar and the post before bouncing out.
Double iron. No goal.
That missed opportunity loomed large early in the third when Anthony Beauvillier tied things up. Vladar kicked out a rebound directly to Beauvillier, who didn’t miss from point-blank range. Suddenly it was 2-2, and the Capitals had the momentum.
Power-Play Redemption
But the Flyers responded. After Justin Sourdif was sent off for hooking Travis Konecny, the Flyers went back to the power play and made it count.
Konecny rang one off the post, but the puck stayed in the zone. Trevor Zegras reset the play, feeding Jamie Drysdale at the blue line.
Drysdale let it rip through a screen by Christian Dvorak, and the puck glanced off Stevenson’s pad and into the top of the net. Flyers back on top, 3-2, with just over five minutes to play.
Late Drama and the Icing on the Cake
The Capitals pulled their goalie in the final minutes, and the Flyers had to weather one last storm. With 1:24 left, a faceoff in the defensive zone gave Washington a prime opportunity. They won the draw clean to Ovechkin, who unleashed one of his trademark bombs - but Vladar was ready.
Moments later, Rasmus Ristolainen sealed the deal with a long-range empty-netter that traveled the length of the ice. That made it 4-2, and the Flyers just had to ride out the final 17 seconds to secure the win.
A Milestone Night for Konecny
Travis Konecny played in his 700th NHL game - every single one as a Flyer - and he made it count with two assists. Konecny is everything you want in a Flyer: fast, skilled, relentless, and just the right amount of nasty. He leads by example, and on a night where the Flyers needed leadership, he showed up.
What’s Next
The Flyers will have one more game - Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators - before the Olympic break. This win doesn’t fix everything, but it’s a step in the right direction.
And with the standings tightening and the season heading into its final stretch, every point matters. Tuesday night, the Flyers earned two that they couldn’t afford to let slip away.