Live Blog: Washington Capitals beat Philadelphia Flyers 3-1

Game information/links

Game preview

After a seemingly forever 20-day break, the Washington Capitals are back on the ice for their first post-Olympics test on the schedule. Tonight our heroes will take on the Philadelphia Flyers, whom they will play two more times this season

The Capitals could mostly put a sword in the heart of the Flyers’ season with regulation victories in both games — and boy, do they need those standings points bad. The Caps currently sit four points out of a playoff spot — both the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference (Boston) and third place in the Metropolitan Division (New York Islanders). While that doesn’t seem too insane to overcome, they have played the most games in the Eastern Conference, so every team has at least one game in hand. So things are more dire than they appear.

“I mean, we’re going to need to hit the ground running here right out of the gate,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said last week. “We’ll talk about it as a group, but we know where we sit and what we’re up against, and we’re just going to have to stay very short-term with it. But there’s not a lot of margin for error, so everybody’s going to have to be playing, and our team as a collective is going to have to be playing at a high level right out of this break.”

While the Capitals are fully healthy up the middle for one of the rare times this season, they will again be shorthanded as alternate captain John Carlson will miss tonight’s game due to a lower-body injury. Tom Wilson is also a game-time decision due to an illness he contracted in Italy with Team Canada.

Despite returning from Italy on Monday, Logan Thompson will battle any remaining jet lag he has and get the first start in net coming out of the Olympic break.

Sonny Milano’s career in Washington could also be over after being put on waivers Wednesday afternoon. The New Jersey native was the odd-man out after Connor McMichael was removed from injured reserve earlier in the day.

Now for some blog-related news. Internally, we thought we’d have a terrible time during the Olympics. Like no one would read the site and we’d struggle with topics to write. In fact, our coverage of the Olympics appears to have had more success than our Capitals stuff. My brain can’t really wrap itself around that – but as always we’re so grateful for you all. The people who participate in the live blog are our core readers and without y’all we’re just not quite as special. So really: thank you. If you want to go through all our coverage from the past two weeks, you can right here through our 2026 Winter Olympics tag. There’s some great stuff in there.

Tonight’s live blog will also have a slightly different look. Basically, we’re trying some new things — like posting earlier and adding more links to outside stat sites — and have added a dynamic bar at the top when there’s an update in the game. While we want you guys to squat here and comment all night long, we’d also like you to interact and refresh these bad boys more. We want this thing to be a great resource for you as you watch games. So basically, let us know what you think and if any ideas you have in the comments. Feedback is absolutely welcome.

We’ll have more updates in the run-up to the game. See you then!

Lines

Washington Capitals

Update: Tom Wilson will miss tonight’s game due to illness.

Philadelphpia Flyers

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

Joe B opens the telecast: “Hey, there! Remember us?!” 😂

Puck is dropped.

Matvei Michkov throws a shot on net, 19 seconds in. Martin Fehervary blocks it, but he’s smarting a bunch.

As he’s sliding the other way, Logan Thompson makes an unbelievable stop on a Denver Barkey redirect in the slot.

Hendrix Lapierre hits Noah Cates along the boards, and Cates is ailing at the bench, but staying in the game.

Nine minutes and 43 seconds into the game, the Flyers are outshooting the Capitals 7-1. Another very slow start by the Capitals.

Alex Ovechkin to the box for hooking Noah Cates. The Flyers get the first power play.

Caps kill the penalty.

Alex Ovechkin wide open in front, but Vladar makes a huge save.

Caps are beginning to move their legs, it just took 3/4’ers of the period to get to that point.

The Capitals are struggling to get shots on net, so PLD is like – okay, I’ll just try to kick in.

At intermission: The game is tied 0-0. It was about what you’d expect after a two week-plus break. The Flyers lead in shots on goal 9-7. The Caps lead in 5v5 shot attempts 18-17.

2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

Hendrix Lapierre rips a one-timer off the side of the net and out of play.

Caps second and third lines both have chances up close, but Vladar makes some huges saves flailing in the crease.

This may not rise to being newsy to you, but Ryan Leonard just did two huge snot rockets in the offensive zone after a whistle. He was not coy at all about letting those brain boogers fly.

Caps finally score! Rasmus Sandin scores jumping into the play after a beautiful set-up feed by Hendrix Lapierre!

Nic Dowd nearly makes it 2-0 after finding a rebound at his feet and backhanding it off the short-side post and out.

Next shift, Rasmus Sandin nearly scores again after a one-timer from the right circle. He then takes a huge end along the end boards and is smarting.

Sean Couturier with a semi-breakaway and Logan Thompson makes the right pad save. Matt Roy also pushed him partially off the puck as he tried to shoot.

At intermission: The Capitals are winning this barnburner 1-0 but they were great in the second period. While the Flyers lead in shots 18-17, the Caps are now destroying them in five-on-five attempts 44-30.

3rd Period

Puck is dropped.

Oh no.

Weak puck play behind the net between Ethen Frank and Martin Fehervary. Defensive zone turnover by Protas then goes to the Flyers where Cates deflects Sanheim’s shot home. LEAKY GOAL.

Sourdif wheels to the net and sends a pass to Ethen Frank who nearly puts the puck home. That would have been a great response.

Cam York holds Pierre-Luc Dubois at 3:46. Caps go to the power play. A goal here would be nice friends.

Vladar robs Jakob Chychrun skating down main street.

Flyers kill the Capitals power play.

Vladar robs Hendrix Lapierre in the slot after a fantastic pass by Brandon Duhaime. Oh my so close, Hendrix.

Rasmus Ristolainen basically dekes through the Capitals’ entire defense and nearly scores on his backhand, but Logan makes a huge save.

Michkov left wide open at the far side of the net. He gets a pass, he shoots, and Logan Thompson slides over to make the save with his left toe. The goaltending has been great tonight.

A D-to-D pass in the crease and TVR scores? Why are they there? What in the hell was that – who cares CAPS LEAD! TVR off the crossbar and in.

That’s TVR’s first goal in 38 games.

Anthony Beauvillier is stopped on a semi-breakaway.

Flyers pull Vladar for an extra attacker with 2:39 remaining in the third period.

Capitals take a delay of game penalty with 48.4 seconds remaining. Nic Dowd sends it into the netting along the corner boards. Flyers to the power play – they’ll have a two man advantage with their goalie pulled.

Time out Philadelphia

Big Pro scores the shorthanded empty-netter.

Capitals win 3-1. Big win. They outshoot the Flyers 29-24.

Caps beat Flyers 3-1 in return from Olympic break

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