Drysdale's Power-Play Goal Lifts Flyers to 4-2 Win vs. Capitals

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers (25-20-10) survived the Washington Capitals’ (28-23-7) comeback, as Jamie Drysdale’s power-play goal gave Philadelphia the late-game lead as they held on to win 4-2 on Tuesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

After four straight games without a win, the Flyers are back in the win column.

Owen Tippett, Carl Grundstrom, Jamie Drysdale, and Rasmus Ristolainen scored for the Flyers. Aliaksei Protas and Anthony Beauvillier scored for the Capitals.

The Flyers got off to a 2-0 lead after 25 minutes, followed by two-straight Capitals’ goals, evening the score. A big power-play goal gave Philadelphia the late-game lead, and they held on to win from there.

Here is how we got to the final score.

Flyers grab the early lead

In a game that was important to get back on track, the Flyers got off to one of their better starts of the season. The Flyers were moving the puck well, and many of the skaters were moving well.

Eventually, the Flyers capitalized on their solid early game play. Matvei Michkov (16) made a great play to get the puck to Travis Sanheim (18), who set up Owen Tippett (19), who made Washington’s netminder Ckay Stevenson look silly. Philadelphia grabbed the 1-0 lead 5:56 into the game.

Things settled down for the Flyers, and the Capitals began to play some of their better hockey since their power-play chance early in the game after a Nick Deslauriers tripping penalty. Fortunately for the Flyers, Dan Vladar was excellent in the first period, stopping all 11 shots, bringing the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The second period started much like the first. Philadelphia looked to have much more energy than Washington. The Flyers continued to get shots on Stevenson, and eventually, another hit the net.

Carl Grundstrom (8) fired a puck in from the half-wall. It looked like what was supposed to be a pass into Sean Couturier’s net-front, but it deflected off Jakob Chychrun’s skate, giving the Flyers a 2-0 lead off Grundstrom’s shot. Nick Deslauriers(1) and Rasmus Ristolainen (5) each earned assists on the goal.

Capitals score two-straight, Drysdale answers

About three-and-a-half minutes later, the Flyers were on their second power play of the game, following a Chychrun hold on Tippett. However, it was not Philadelphia that scored on the chance.

Cam York ripped a shot from the high slot that deflected off Stevenson and around the boards. Anthony Beauvillier (8) retrieved the puck and started an odd-man rush with Aliaksei Protas (19), who finished the shot for the shorthanded goal, getting the Capitals on the board.

After that, it was a relatively quiet period of hockey. Both teams had some chances silenced by the opposing goalie, but neither team had enough sustained pressure to get anything going.

So, the 2-1 Flyers lead went into the second intermission, but did not last long in the third period.

Just 2:40 into the period, the Capitals were moving the puck around their offensive zone. Trevor Van Riemsdyk (6) found Justin Sourdif (14) at the right-side circle, who found Beauvillier (12) on the doorstep, who punched in the equalizer, making it a 2-2 game.

Play went on as both teams tried to score the game-winner. The Flyers had a great chance with 5:47 left as Travis Konecny drew a hooking penalty against Sourdif.

Needing a score, Jamie Drysdale (4) delivered a major blast from the high-slot area, giving Philly the 3-2 lead. Trevor Zegras (28) and Travis Konecny (31) earned the assists on the goal.

The Capitals gave a good late push with the extra attacker, but Vladar stood tall. Rasmus Ristolainen (1) scored on the empty net from just in front of Vladar, sealing the 4-2 win.

What’s next for the Flyers

The Flyers play one last game before the Olympic break on Thursday when they host the Ottawa Senators at Xfinity Mobile Arena, with puck drop at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Drysdale’s Power-Play Goal Lifts Flyers to 4-2 Win vs. Capitals

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