#CapsFlyers Postgame Notebook: Streak Stopper

When the Caps took their three-game tour of California earlier this month, they faced a trio of desperate teams aiming to improve their positioning in the standings during the NHL's stretch drive. The Caps returned from that trip with only two points, but they played well and became battle tested, an element that helped them to come home and defeat the Winnipeg Jets in their first home game after the journey.

After facing the Jets, the schedule delivered a home-and-home set of games against the New York Islanders, who have spent the last three and a half months slowly fading south in the Metropolitan Division standings. The Isles give up goals like they're Halloween candy, and seem mainly interested in playing in the offensive zone.

Things came fairly easily for the Caps on Thursday and Friday as they swept that home-and-home set from Islanders, scoring 13 goals in two games against a team playing out the regular season string. Those two victories over New York did nothing to prepare the Caps to face the Flyers in Philadelphia on Sunday, and Philly rolled to a 6-3 victory over Washington.

"The way they play is obviously they come at you really hard," says Caps center Jay Beagle of the Flyers. "We knew that we had to limit our turnovers and make sure we were getting it behind their [defense].

"They played a really good game, especially on a back-to-back. I just think our start and the way we kind of came out wasn't our best. That's what kind of almost dictated the game a little bit. I don't know if it's from turnovers or what. They came out more desperate and played a harder game. By the time we got going, now you're kind of chasing."

Despite having played on the road the night before while the Caps rested, the Flyers were the sharper team and they were clearly the better team on Sunday night, and they ended Washington's winning streak at four; the Caps were seeking to match their longest winning run of the season, a five-game streak from Dec. 28-Jan. 9.

"I thought tonight our focus and attention to detail especially through the first part of this game was really good, that set a foundation for the game," says Flyers coach Dave Hakstol. "The second period was a little bit helter skelter, but we made enough plays to come out of it with a lead. I just liked our mindset to start the hockey game tonight and the level the players were playing at."

Catching Kurri - For Washington, the high point of the night was Alex Ovechkin's 601st goal of the season late in the second period. That goal tied the game at 1-1, and it tied Ovechkin with Hockey Hall of Famer Jari Kurri for 19th place on the NHL's all-time goals scored list.

The game remained tied only for a few minutes; Philly blew open that 1-1 tie with a trio of goals in a span of just 3:18 over the last couple of minutes of the second and the first couple of minutes of the third period.

Men Down - Heading into Sunday's game with the Flyers, the Capitals had six players who had appeared in all 71 of Washington's games to that point of the season. But coming out of Sunday's contest, that number dwindled to four.

Center Evgeny Kuznetsov (upper body injury) and defenseman Brooks Orpik (lower body injury) both sat out Sunday's game against the Flyers, and both are currently listed as day-to-day.

The Caps expected to be without Kuznetsov, who did not travel with the team to Philadelphia, but Orpik's absence was a last minute development.

"It's day to day," says Caps coach Barry Trotz of Orpik's ailment. "He was expecting to play and he is a good pro. He is tough as nails. He told me right before the game that he didn't think that he could go. So we made the switch to Jerry [Jakub Jerabek] there."

In each of the last five seasons, the Caps have had seven players play in every game on the schedule. Their current total of four players who have played in every game would be the lowest since 2010-11 when only three Washington players - Karl Alzner, John Carlson and Brooks Laich - played in all 82 games.

Point Made - With Kuznetsov on the sidelines, rookie center Travis Boyd drew into the lineup and right into Kuznetsov's spot between Ovechkin and Tom Wilson. Boyd made a great play to set up Ovechkin's goal, earning his first career NHL point in the process.

"It's obviously a little different when you figure out your going to be playing with Ovi and all that," says Boyd. "Trotz talked to me before the game and just said don't worry about it just go out there and play hockey, I thought we did a decent job tonight."

Boyd logged 11:35 in ice time - the most he has skated in his five career games in the NHL - and he won half of his eight face-offs on the night.

On Ovechkin's goal, Boyd carried into Philadelphia ice and cut to the middle, drawing the attention of a couple of defenders. He whirled and fed a flat pass to Ovechkin, who had enough time and space to tip it past Philly goalie Petr Mrazek, thus earning Boyd his first career point.

Top Dog - Carlson had a goal and an assist in Sunday's game, adding to his single-season bests in both categories as well as in points. With 14 goals and 45 assists, Carlson's 59 points on the season are tied for the most among all NHL defenseman. Dallas defenseman John Klingberg (seven goals, 52 assists) also has 59 points, and the Stars are Washington's next opponent, visiting Capital One Arena on Tuesday night.

Carlson's total of 14 goals puts him in a four-way tie for fourth place among the league's blueliners. A trio of defensemen - Calgary's Dougie Hamilton, St. Louis' Alex Pietrangelo and Nashville's P.K. Subban - is tied for the top spot with 15 goals.

Down On The Farm - The AHL Hershey Bears were in action on Sunday, facing the Baby Penguins in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Despite owning a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes of play, the Bears absorbed a 6-4 setback at the hands of the Baby Pens.

Liam O'Brien got the Bears started early, staking them to a 1-0 lead just 1:02 after opening puck drop with help from Wayne Simpson and Tyler Graovac. At 4:57 of the first, Joe Whitney netted his 13th of the season with help from Tim McGauley and Simpson, doubling the Bears' lead to 2-0.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton cut into that lead in the middle of the first, but Jonas Siegenthaler restored the two-goal cushion with his fourth of the season at 15:53 of the first, Dustin Gazley and Zach Sill assisting.

The Baby Pens scored four unanswered goals to take a 5-3 lead before Siegenthaler cut it to 5-4 with his second of the game and fifth of the season at 10:14 of the third. Simpson and Graovac earned the helpers on Siegenthaler's second of the night, but the Bears couldn't manufacture the equalizer.

Bears goalie Pheonix Copley stopped 26 of 32 shots in a losing effort, falling to 14-16-6 on the season. Hershey will be idle until it visits the Wolf Pack in Hartford on Saturday afternoon.

By The Numbers - Carlson led the Caps with 25:27 in ice time … Carlson, Nicklas Backstrom, Lars Eller and Dmitry Orlov each had three shots on net to lead the Capitals … Devante Smith-Pelly, Christian Djoos, Tom Wilson, T.J. Oshie and Jay Beagle each had two hits to lead the Caps … Eller blocked four shots to lead the Caps … Beagle won 11 of 13 face-offs (85%).