Flyers Slide Continues With Loss to Caps

Jakub Voracek (AP Photo)

Jason Chimera scored two power-play goals in the second period to help the Washington Capitals to a 5-2 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.

T.J. Oshie, Justin Williams and Nicklas Backstrom also scored for the Capitals (11-4-0), who have won three of their past four games. Goaltender Braden Holtby made 18 saves.

The Flyers (5-8-3), who have lost eight of their past nine games, got goals from Scott Laughton and Claude Giroux. Goalie Steve Mason, in his first start in five games, made 27 saves.

Alex Ovechkin will have to wait at least another day to set the record for most goals by a Russian in NHL history after an apparent goal was overturned in the second period. He remains tied with Hockey Hall of Fame member Sergei Fedorov at 483 goals.

The Capitals host the Calgary Flames on Friday.

Washington scored three goals in the second period to take a 4-2 lead. Chimera and Williams scored in a span of 45 seconds to put the Capitals ahead 3-2.

With Flyers forward Michael Raffl in the penalty box for cross-checking, Chimera controlled a pass from Evgeny Kuznetsov down the middle of the ice before chipping the puck past Mason at 9:54 to pull the Capitals into a 2-2 tie. The goal was Chimera’s first on the power play since Jan. 31, 2014, at the Detroit Red Wings. Williams knocked in a loose puck from the slot at 10:39.

Chimera scored his second of the game, fifth of the season, on a deflection at 17:27 to make it 4-2.

Ovechkin thought he established the record for career goals by a Russian-born player when he beat Mason on the power play with 38 seconds left in the second. Flyers coach Dave Hakstol used a challenge for the first time this season, and the goal was overturned after video replay showed that Williams was inside the blue line before Chimera brought the puck into the zone.

It was the second time in three games Ovechkin had a goal disallowed following a coach’s challenge. What would have been career goal No. 484 was overturned for goalie interference in a 3-2 shootout victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Giroux gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead when he scored a power-play goal 1:07 into the second. Giroux took a pass from Wayne Simmonds along the left-wing boards and beat Holtby on his left glove side with a shot from the far hash marks for his fifth goal.

Oshie scored his fifth goal 10:35 into the first to pull the Capitals into a 1-1 tie. Kuznetsov set up Oshie when he made a behind-the-back pass off his forehand just before curling the net at the right post.

Laughton scored his third goal early in the first to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. Chris VandeVelde stole the puck from Capitals forward Jay Beagle in the right circle before feeding Laughton, who scored over Holtby’s left shoulder at 3:34.

The Flyers had one shot on three power-play chances in the first; they finished 1-for-4 with the man-advantage.