Alex Ovechkin got within seven goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record as he scored the opening goal in the Washington Capitals’ 3-2 home win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.
The Capitals (46-15-8, 100 points) held on after rushing out to a 3-0 lead to earn a season sweep over their division rivals.
Anthony Beauvillier picked up a pair of assists and Charlie Lindgren made 26 saves in the victorious effort.
Andrew Mangiapane and Brandon Duhaime also scored for the Capitals, while Ryan Poehling tallied for the Flyers (28-34-8, 64 points).
With 5:35 to play in the opening frame Aleksei Protas got the puck across to the open Ovechkin, who trickled his shot past Samuel Ersson for his 888th career goal.
Beauviller carried the puck behind the net just under two minutes into the second period and spotted an open Matt Roy. The Capitals defenseman’s one-timer tipped off Duhaime and gave Washington a 2-0 lead.
The Capitals increased their lead to three with 8:54 remaining in the middle frame as Beauvillier picked up his second assist of the night after he fed a pass across to Mangiapane while on an odd-man rush.
Mangiapane took the pass and struck for the first time since Feb. 4.
With just over two minutes left in the second, Mangiapane found himself in a shooting position on yet another odd-man rush, but this time sent his shot wide of the cage.
Poehling finally broke the Flyers’ two-game goal drought with 14:50 left in the contest.
With a little help from defenseman Jakob Chychrun’s stick, the Flyers forward solved Lindgren.
Just over a minute later the Capitals believed they regained their three-game goal lead, but John Carlson’s goal was called back for a missed stoppage in play for a gloved pass after the Flyers called for a coach’s challenge.
Lindgren made a crucial stop with 9:48 remaining in the contest as he turned aside Konecny’s in-close deke attempt.
The Flyers’ leading scorer had another chance mere seconds later on a 2-on-0 break but found the right post with his opportunity.
The Flyers made it interesting with 2:36 left as Sean Couturier was proven to have crossed the goal line with his shot after another successful coach’s challenge made it a 3-2 contest.
–Field Level Media
