Fedotenko's game-winner lifts Flyers past Capitals in OT
PHILADELPHIA -- A comeback win could be what the Philadelphia Flyers need to get on a streak down the stretch.
Ruslan Fedotenko scored 1:34 into overtime to lift the Flyers to a 5-4 victory over the Washington Capitals at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday night.
Kimmo Timonen sent the game into overtime with a goal with 9.5 seconds left in regulation and then set up Fedotenko's game-winner with a perfect pass in overtime.
"Hopefully we can build off this," Timonen said.
The Flyers (15-17-3) moved with two points of the New York Rangers and New York Islanders for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals (16-17-2) with 34 points are one behind.
"We need every point," Fedotenko said. "We have to be prepared and take care of every game. If not, it doesn't matter who does what around the league."
Marcus Johansson and Alex Ovechkin scored power-play goals 26 seconds to give the Capitals a 4-2 lead, but the Flyers rallied. Claude Giroux scored a power-play goal and then Timonen ripped a slap shot past Braden Holtby.
Maxime Talbot and Matt Read scored the other goals for the Flyers.
Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green also had goals for Washington.
"We missed a chance to win the game," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. "We got a point there but we obviously want two there. We let it get away."
Philadelphia's Jakub Voracek took on Steve Olesky and bloodied the side of his face after Olesky knocked down Giroux five minutes into the third. The result was a four-minute power play for Washington because Voracek got two minutes for instigating and two minutes for fighting with a visor.
"I wasn't very happy about the result, but I'm happy we came back," Voracek said.
His teammates supported his effort.
"I'm proud of him," Timonen said. "You don't hit Giroux like that and not pay the price."
After a turnover in Philadelphia's zone, Johansson fired a slap shot over Ilya Bryzgalov's glove to give the Capitals a 3-2 lead. Ovechkin then scored on a one-timer from inside the left circle to make it 4-2.
Green scored the tying goal late in the second period after leaving the penalty box. He got a long pass from Brooks Laich, skated in alone and shot one into the corner to make it 2-2.
"You have to fight for points until the end, and we didn't do that tonight," Backstrom said.
Giroux took control of the puck after a turnover in Philadelphia's zone and sent a long pass to Read, who streaked in and scored on the breakaway to make it 2-1 late in the first.
Minutes later, Bryzgalov made an excellent save on Troy Brouwer's in-front shot during Washington's 5-on-3.
Talbot tied at 1 midway through the first when he slid a shot between Holtby's legs. Timonen set it up with a centering pass from behind the net to snap a seven-game pointless drought.
The Capitals took a 1-0 lead 4:29 into the game when Backstrom redirected Jack Hillen's slap shot into the net.
"Thirteen games left is a lot of games," Voracek said. "We haven't been on a hot streak. Maybe we can start one now."
NOTES: Defenseman Kent Huskins, acquired from Detroit on Saturday, made his debut with the Flyers. ... Bryzgalov has started 33 of Philadelphia's 35 games. ... Backstrom has three goals in the last six games. He had three in his first 29 games. ... Hillen recorded his first point since Jan. 1, 2012. ... The Flyers wrap up a five-game homestand Wednesday night vs. Montreal. ... Read has two goals in two games after not getting any in the previous nine.
