POSTGAME 5: Flyers Fall to the Caps in DC

The Philadelphia Flyers got stomped by the Washington Capitals, 6-1, at the Capital One Arena on Tuesday evening. The Flyers got thoroughly outplayed in every facet of the game for virtually the entire game. The Capitals went 3-for-3 on the power play, had organized entries and easy exits at five-on-five and gave their goaltender a relatively easy night.

Conor Sheary (11th goal of the season) opened the scoring in the first period but Sean Couturier (13th) got it right back. A Tom Wilson power play goal (11th), a Nicklas Backstrom power play goal (14th) and a Carl Hagelin tally (4th) put the Caps ahead 4-1 at the end of the stanza.

In the second period, debuting Caps forward Anthony Mantha (12th of the season) picked up his first goal and second point for his new team. Alexander Ovechkin (22nd) added to the carnage in the third period.

Brian Elliott went the distance despite the lopsided score. He stopped 26 of 32 shots. Ilya Samsonov earned the win with 29 saves on 30 shots.
TURNING POINT

The Flyers were outplayed all night by a wide margin. But a needless penalty on Nicolas Aube-Kubel and a subsequent power play goal by Bäckström was the point where things went from a rough start to a brewing blowout.

MELTZER'S TAKE

1) The Flyers yielded all sorts of time and space to Washington in a lopsided and ugly first period. They also couldn't get saves from Elliott moving across. Shots were 18-8 Caps and 4-1 in the cash register.

Sean Couturier rang an early shot off Samsonov's mask. At the other end, a puck that deflected off Oskar Lindblom created a tough save for Elliott. At 7:07, Elliott lost his positioning and Sheary put the puck in the open side of the net. A failed clear preceded the goal sequence.

2) Scott Laughton was denied by Samsonov's pad but the Flyers scored very shortly thereafter. A James van Riemsdyk shot was deflected home by Couturier at 8:45. That was pretty much the lone Flyers highlight.

An elbowing penalty on a reverse hit by Shayne Gostisbehere on Ovechkin (it was actually Gostisbehere's back that made contact) put the Caps on their first power play. Wilson beat Elliott under the arm to make it 2-1. The assists went to Sheary and Anthony Mantha at 11:32. Then a backhand to forehand PPG upstairs by Backstrom made it 3-1 at 16:25. At 18:21, a wide open Hagelin beat Elliott through the five-hole.

3) The Flyers were unable to score on two late looks on their first power play, including a rebound chance for Nolan Patrick. At the other end, Oshie left a drop pass for trailer Mantha. Using Travis Sanheim as a screen, Mantha beat Elliott to the top corner to make it 5-1 at 9:22 of the second period.

4) The Flyers generated very little pressure among the meager six shots they put on Samsonov's net in the second period. Defensive zone exits were too easy for the Caps as well.

5) The Caps made it 3-for-3 on the power play at 5:10 of the third period as Ovechkin scored on a snap shot from his office in the top of the left circle to extend the Capitals' cushion to five goals. The Flyers had several scoring chances in the latter stages of the game, but none found the net. At the other end, Elliott made a very nice save to deny Mantha's bid for his second goal and third point of the game.