Flyers score 4 unanswered goals, overcome Capitals

PHILADELPHIA -- Owen Tippett had a goal and an assist, and the Philadelphia Flyers scored four unanswered goals to overcome the Washington Capitals 4-1 at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Wednesday.

Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale also scored, Noah Cates had two assists and Samuel Ersson made 21 saves for Philadelphia (30-23-11), which won in regulation for the first time since Feb. 28.

"I thought a lot of guys showed up tonight, getting into scrums and fighting back," Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. "It was one of those types of games. I think basically everybody was involved and helped each other out."

Tippett led the charge, using his size (6-foot-1, 210 pounds), speed and physicality to put a team-high six shots on goal.

"I think when you kind of get a jump and you can kind of get loose a little bit early, I think it gives you the confidence to kind of keep going throughout the game," he said. "My legs felt good."

The best example came on Zegras' goal that gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead at 12:13 of the second period. He jumped in front of Capitals forward Tom Wilson at the Flyers blue line to intercept a pass and shot past forward Dylan Strome to create a 2-on-0 rush that Zegras finished at the net.

"To play with him is such a treat," Zegras said. "He had like six breakaways. He fell down on the 2-on-0 that we had, and he was still skating faster than me."

Tippett entered the game second among all players with 42, 22-plus mph bursts, according to NHL EDGE stats.

"The guy is a stud," Drysdale said. "He's an absolute horse for us, the way he's been playing this year as a whole, tonight as well. I think he went end to end 50 times this game. Every time he touches the puck he's a threat. I wouldn't want to be a defenseman on the opposing team going with that guy with a head of steam."

Ryan Leonard scored and Logan Thompson made 18 saves for Washington (32-27-7), which has lost four of its past five games and four straight on the road.

"Just making mistakes in the second period that ended up costing us," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. "... Overall, I thought we played hard, thought we were right there. Probably the chances are going to be pretty even. We're just not making enough plays."

Leonard put the Capitals ahead 1-0 with a power-play goal at 9:51 of the first period. He pulled the puck out of traffic along the left boards, wheeled to the top of the left face-off circle and beat Ersson to the short side past his blocker.

It was the NHL-high 44th time Philadelphia allowed the game's first goal.

Konecny, celebrating his 29th birthday, tied the game 1-1 at 4:23 of the second period when he scored from the right side after a cross-ice pass off the rush from Travis Sanheim.

"It was just important for us to stick in this one," Konecny said. "We've given up the first goal a couple times lately and let it get away from us. Earlier in the year, we were, I think, getting scored on all the time and just bouncing right back. So if we can get back in that mentality, I think it was really good for us to see that tonight."

The Capitals felt that bounce back right from the start of the second period.

"I think they pressed us pretty good to start the second period," Washington defenseman Matt Roy said. "Obviously, they had a few breaks and got momentum. I thought we did a good job battling back and we had our own chances, we just didn't capitalize."

Drysdale made it 3-1 at 7:17 of the third period. Cates had a wraparound attempt at the right post roll off his stick before being kicked out by Thompson, but it went to Drysdale in the high slot. He dragged the puck around Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas to create space and scored with a wrist shot.

It was the defenseman's fourth goal in 10 games, after he notched just three in his first 51.

"I think it's more just not being gun shy," Drysdale said. "Good things happen when you shoot the puck and it's kind of been showing as of late."

Tippett closed the scoring with an empty-net goal at 18:57.

"He's a true power forward," Tocchet said. "I think he's had a really good year this year, he's really improved. Moved him around this year but he can drive play by himself."

NOTES: Tippett's goal was his 100th with the Flyers. ... Zegras' goal gave the Flyers their first in-game lead in four games, dating to the third period of their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 2. ... Philadelphia's 18 wins when allowing the game's first goal lead the NHL. ... Leonard has four points (three goals, one assist) during a four-game point streak, matching his NHL best. ... Defenseman Timothy Liljegren had one shot on goal in 14:48 of ice time in his Capitals debut. He had been acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on March 6.