After an emotional win on Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals returned home to finish off the regular season. In the first game of a back to back with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Caps fell 4-2, their first loss to the Flyers since their first meeting of the season on Super Bowl Sunday.
The Caps initially struck first from Daniel Sprong until the ref took it away as Sprong kicked it in. The Flyers would answer moments later on a goal from Joel Farabee at 1:44.
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The Caps would tie it as Sprong would redeem himself. Off the faceoff draw, Anthony Mantha got the puck and fed it to Sprong. Sprong not only blasted a one timer but did it on one foot. Is there anything this kid can’t do? The goal came at 16:19.
1-1 was the score after the first period with shots even at eight. Wade Allison scored back to back goals in the second to give the Flyers the lead. The first one came at 4:19 and the second at 14:45. 3-1 would be the score and if the Caps weren’t going to win this game the fans at Capital One Arena at least got a silver lining.
That silver lining was T.J. Oshie. After scoring a hat trick for Coach Oshie, his dad, the other night in Manhattan, Oshie scored a goal with his family in the stands. The goal came at 18:51 as Oshie deflected in a shot from Brenden Dillon. Lars Eller had the secondary assist.
3-2 Flyers was the score after two periods with the Caps leading in shots 12-11, a much better effort than the first period. Although shots were even at 10 in the third, the Caps couldn’t get the equalizer.
The Caps finished outshooting the Flyers 30-29 but something was off about their game. Sean Couturier put the game away with an empty net goal with 31 seconds left.
Vitek Vanecek got the start as Ilya Samsonov is still in COVID protocols. He finished with 25 saves for a .893 save percentage. There’s no timetable on when Samsonov will be back but with the Caps in a back to back they’re going with Craig Anderson.
Still this was an opportunity to get into first and the Caps let it slip. The Pittsburgh Penguins play the Buffalo Sabres at 3. If the Pens lose and the Caps win out the division can be locked up. The Caps and Flyers go at it again tonight.