It’s going to take a desperate effort by the Flyers almost every night to get back into the playoff picture. Wednesday night’s effort was not a step in the right direction.

Down to the Washington Capitals after two periods, the Flyers rallied for a tie the game 29 seconds into the third. But the Capitals retook the lead on a goal by defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk with 5:52 to play and went on to a 3-1 win at Bank One Arena.

The teams traded scoring chances for almost the first 35 minutes with nothing to show for it until the Capitals finally broke through. A Flyer turnover led to a mismatch down low. Rasmus Sandin finished off a cross-crease pass from Hendrix Lapierre at 13:52.

But the Flyers needed only 29 seconds in the third to tie the score. Travis Sanheim’s long shot nicked off Noah Cates and past goaltender Logan Thompson. That ended Cates’ 18-game goal slump.

Ultimately, one goal wasn’t enough as the Flyers continue to struggle to score. Coach Rick Tocchet, working in-person with his team for the first time since Feb. 5, said his team has to establish a stronger presence in front of the opponent’s net.

“I thought there were parts of the game where we were pushed out in front,” Tocchet said. “So we have to start getting dirty in there. That’s how you score. You’ve got to get in front of the net and get those greasy goals.”

The Flyers are just 3-9-4 in their last 16 games. This is not a bump in the road. It’s a mountain.

“The tic-tac-toe goals don’t come late in the season,” Tocchet said, alluding to the Flyers’ sporadic physical play. “So we have to dial some guys to really get to the net.”

After vowing to come out of the break with some fire, the Flyers mostly produced smoke.

“It’s a tough one to lose,” Christian Dvorak said. “Gave up too many odd-man rushes, especially late in the game. We had our chances, we just have to get a little more gritty in front of the net. Get some dirty goals.”

Cates knows the Flyers can’t afford to play on the perimeter. They just aren’t that offensively gifted.

“We need to get more bodies there,” said Cates, who was only several feet off the net when his goal went in. “Get some bodies there. Just a huge 25 games (left). We need these points.”

The Flyers had the better of the play in the first period, generating several good scoring chances and outshooting the Caps, 9-7. Goaltender Dan Vladar, back from the Olympics, was spotless in the opening frame.

The Flyers, eight points out of a playoff spot going into their final 26 games, know there is little margin for error. So they had to hit the ice at full speed. Travis Konecny said the Flyers are aware of the stakes in each of these games.

“I think if we can just get back to fresh legs,” Konecny said. “Playing the way we were (at the start of the season). Details, how we want to play our system and things like that. I think it’s definitely doable. We know it’s in the locker room. We’ll see how the first two games go.”

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NOTES >> The Flyers complete a back-to-back with a game in New York against the Rangers Thursday. It’s an 8 p.m. start. … The Caps were without Canadian Olympian Tom Wilson and defenseman John Carlson. … Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen finished a plus-9 in the Olympic tournament for Finland, which tied for the overall lead. Sanheim, playing for Canada, was plus-6. … Carl Grundstrom made a rare start on the fourth line with Nikita Grebenkin and Garnet Hathaway. … Defenseman Noah Juulsen played in his 200th NHL game.