Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds Lead Flyers To 3-2 Shootout Win Over Capitals

Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds scored in the shootout and Steve Mason made 36 saves to lift the Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-2 home victory over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night.

Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds Lead Flyers To 3-2 Shootout Win Over Capitals

Michael Raffl and Claude Giroux scored in regulation for the Flyers (20-11-4), who snapped a two-game skid that followed a 10-game winning streak.

“It’s definitely good to get back in the win column,” Mason said. “You go on a ten-game winning streak and you can’t let it slide. You can’t let it slide and counteract everything we did on the winning streak.”

Philadelphia’s streak ended with Saturday’s loss at Dallas. The Flyers then lost to the Predators in a shootout at home on Monday night.

Mason did his part to keep Philadelphia in the game, including a kick save while lying on his stomach on a shot in close by Washington defenseman Matt Niskanen with 17.7 seconds left in overtime.

It was one of the unlucky bounces Capitals coach Barry Trotz said made the difference in the game.

There was another just before Giroux scored to tie it 2-2 with 20.7 seconds left in the second period, when Evgeny Kuznetsov’s clearing attempt off the boards bounced back into the slot.

“Bad bounce of the boards,” Trotz said. “Hits a seam in the boards, bounces into the middle of the ice, Giroux gets it, and sticks it in the back of the net. … You try doing that a couple thousand times, it wouldn’t happen.”

Andre Burakovsky and Lars Eller each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (19-8-4), and Braden Holtby made 36 saves.

Burakovsky scored with 1:36 remaining in the opening period to put Washington up 1-0. It was his first goal in 27 games and came in his return to the lineup after being scratched for three games.

“Was nice to get back in and finally get a goal again,” he said. “It’s been a while. It’s about time. Think I played a really good game today. Had a lot of opportunities, skated good, really confident with the puck. Fun to be back in.”

Raffl tied it 1-1 when he scored on a wraparound at 4:25 of the second period.

Eller scored his first goal in 18 games at to put the Caps ahead 2-1 at 9:53 of the second period.

The Flyers held the Capitals to one shot on goal and two attempts on their penalty kill that carried into overtime.

It was the first time in six games that Washington didn’t score a power-play goal. The Flyers have killed off 16 consecutive penalties in their last six games.

Vice President Joe Biden attended the game.

The teams next meet on Jan. 15 in Washington. The Capitals next host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday, while the Flyers will visit the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 21: Wayne Simmonds #17 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal on goalie Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals (not pictured) during a shootout at Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Flyers won, 3-2, in a shootout. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena