Jamie Drysdale Strikes Late on Power Play to End Flyers Losing Streak Against Capitals
Jamie Drysdale scored a decisive power-play goal with 5:23 remaining in the third period to lift the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. The goal, a blast from the blue line through traffic, broke a 2-2 tie and snapped the Flyers’ four-game losing streak. Rasmus Ristolainen secured the win with a long-distance empty-net goal in the final seconds, while goaltender Dan Vladar made 26 saves to anchor the Philadelphia defense.
The game-winning sequence highlighted a significant connection for the Flyers, as Trevor Zegras won a puck battle in the corner to feed Drysdale for the go-ahead marker. The assist marked another point of production for the duo, while Travis Konecny also contributed to the play. The Flyers had opened the scoring in the first period through Owen Tippett, who finished a passing play involving Matvei Michkov and Travis Sanheim. Despite taking early leads, Philadelphia struggled to contain Washington’s counterattack in the middle frame, surrendering a shorthanded goal to Aliaksei Protas that briefly swung momentum in the Capitals’ favor.
While the Flyers celebrated the end of their skid, critics noted that the Capitals were playing on the second half of a back-to-back set, visibly dealing with fatigue in the final period. Washington, who entered the contest on a three-game winning streak, controlled significant stretches of play and generated multiple high-danger chances, including a late opportunity by NHL all-time leading scorer Alex Ovechkin that Vladar managed to turn aside. The Capitals’ failure to convert on special teams and a defensive breakdown on the penalty kill ultimately cost them valuable points in the standings.
Philadelphia’s victory provides a morale boost for a team that has faced scrutiny for its recent inability to close out games. Drysdale’s goal was his fourth of the season, a positive sign for the defenseman who has battled injury concerns. Conversely, the loss serves as a missed opportunity for Washington to solidify its playoff positioning against a lower-ranked opponent. The Flyers will look to build on this result as they continue their homestand, while the Capitals must regroup quickly to avoid slipping further in the metropolitan division race.
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