POSTGAME 5: Flyers Conquer Caps, 2-1

The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Washington Capitals, 2-1- at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday afternoon.

Claude Giroux (17th goal of the season) scored on the game's first shift. Cam Atkinson (18th) made it 2-0 late in the opening period.
TJ Oshie (PPG, 6th) narrowed the gap to 2-1 in the second period. The Flyers wer unable to respond on a subsequent two-man advantage.
The Flyers staged a strong defensive effort in the third period closeout.
Carter Hart earned the win with 27 saves on 28 shots. Ilya Samsonov took the loss despite 21 saves on 23 shots.
The Flyers went 0-for-2 on the power play. The Capitals went 1-for-3.
TURNING POINT
Cam Atkinson set up Giroux for the early 1-0 lead and then converted a broken play into a goal for a 2-0 lead. Hart and company made it stand up.
MELTZER'S TAKE
1) The Flyers scored just 11 seconds after the opening faceoff. Giroux took a pass from Cam Atkinson after the Flyers gained the Washington zone. The Flyers captain then rifled a shot from the high slot past Samsonov. Joe Farabee got the secondary assist.

Isaac Ratcliffe was called for tripping at the 30-second mark. Hart made three saves on the kill.
Rasmus Ristolainen created a scramble near the Caps' net. Samsonov denied Gerry Mayhew at the doorstep. The Flyers had seven of the first 10 shots in the game and 10 of the first 14.
With 3:30 remaining in the first period, Zack MacEwen took exception to a rough hit near the Caps' bench by Tom Wilson. MacEwen dropped the gloves and went toe-to-toe with Wilson . MacEwen was assessed an additional minor for roughing on top of five for fighting.
After the power play expired for Washington, the Flyers scored on a broken 3-on-1 rush. Scott Laughton's pass was tipped but went to Atkinson's stick. Atkinson then roofed the puck from below the right circle. Ristolainen got the secondary helper.

2) The Flyers played with excellent pace throughout the first period. They were aggressive in puck pursuit and usually pretty clean on breakouts. Shots on goal were 14-9 Flyers.
3) Derick Brassard set up an open chance from the slot for MacEwen on a strong shift for the Flyers near the five-minute mark of the second period.
Ratcliffe was felled by a questionable hit in the Caps' end with no penalty called. A furious Ratcliffe sought revenge at the other end of the ice, drilling Oshie with a hit behind the net. Ratcliffe was called for interference.
The Caps cashed in on the power play. Oshie hammered a one-timer from the left hash marks into the net. Nicklas Bäckström teed it up for Oshie.
Washington made a push after the Oshie goal. Hart robbed Joe Snively on a point blank backhander off a Lars Eller pass to keep the Flyers ahead. Shots were 7-3 Caps through 10:57.
At 11:20, Nic Dowd was called for roughing in the Flyers zone. The Flyers got a 49-second 5-on-3 as Martin Fehervary was called for interference. The Flyers were unable to capitalize.
The Caps resumed territorial control for much of the latter part of the period. The Flyers kept most of the play to the perimeter. Hart took care of the rest to make sure the team at least took a lead to the third period.
4) Second period shots were 11-4 in Washington's favor. Unlike the first period, the Flyers were not dictating enough of the play. They defended well but spent too much time doing it. Also, the unsuccessful 5-on-3 potentially looked large in a one-goal game.
5) The third period got off to a cautious start. The Caps had the only two shots through the first 4:45.
The Flyers continued to check tightly but generate virtually zero attack. Keith Yandle hit the post near the 9-minute mark. Shots on goal were 4-0 Caps when the Flyers iced the puck at 11:22.
van Riemsdyk generated the Flyers first shot on a play off the rush. The shot generated a rebound opportunity. With 4:47 left, a favorable bounce produced a prime chance for Laughton.
Shots on goal were 4-4 with 2:27 left. The Caps were struggling to find space for several minutes.
Atkinson missed an empty net opportunity from the red line. A high stick ruling ended a potential breakout. A blocked shot by Patrick Brown in the closing moments preserved the win. Third period shots were 7-4 Caps.