Trade deadline day saw the Flyers garner another critical two points from a Metro Division rival as they defeated the Washington Capitals, 6-4, Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center.
This one offered everything: Scoring, hitting, defense, and even a brawl.
The victory kept the Flyers in second place in the division with 72 points -- four more than the Caps.
The Flyers started quickly at 2-0, endured an brawl that saw two players ejected, then scored twice more in the second period to chase starting goalie Braden Holtby for Philipp Grubauer.
It was 4-1 when the third period began and then breakdowns and penalties greatly aided the Caps' comeback before Jakub Vorcek gave them some late breathing room. He had two goals.
Washington made a push in the third period and twice got to within a goal (4-3, 5-4) while the Flyers' penalty kill was toasted with three goals against.
Big saves
Flyers goalie Steve Mason had one on Troy Brouwer in the first two minutes of the game off a play from behind the net that went directly in front from 10 feet. That said, Mason looked shaky in the third period.
Penalties
Holtby viciously hooked Zac Rinaldo to the ice in the first period and got away with it after Rinaldo had a clean hit on a player. Weird thing is, the Flyers still got a power play with a slash call on Brouwer and scored on the ensuing man advantage.
Quick start
The Flyers had a 2-0 lead barely nine minutes into the game on Holtby. Maybe the trade the Caps completed earlier for goalie Jaroslav Halak somehow got into his head.
Embarrassed Ovie
That’s what Claude Giroux did at 6:41 on his 22nd goal. Sean Couturier stole a puck off Jack Hillen and gave it to Giroux off the right boards. Giroux cut into the slot and put a forehand/backhand move on Alex Ovechkin for a goal that had both Ovie and Holtby going the wrong way.
Power play
Voracek scored his seventh power-play goal of the year at 8:22 of the first period to give the Flyers that 2-0 lead. Flyers were 1 for 2 on the PP in the game.
Penalty kill
It was 6 for 6 last outing against the Caps, but the Flyers' PK units gave up three in this game -- a goal to Ward, Ovechkin and Brooks Laich.
Debut
Newly-acquired defenseman Andrew MacDonald was plus-2. He had an assist on the Flyers’ fourth goal.
Brawl
With 8:01 left in the opening period, Luke Schenn had a hard, clean check on Ryan Stoa. That triggered an outright brawl starting with Tom Wilson jumping Schenn. Then Vinny Lecavalier and John Erskine dropped the gloves. Finally, Wayne Simmonds got tangled up with Connor Carrick. Erskine and Lecavalier also were tossed with game misconducts since that was a secondary fight. Wilson got a 10-minute misconduct but remained in the game.
Anniversary
The brawl came on the same night as the 10-year anniversary between the Ottawa Senators and Flyers in Philadelphia back in 2004. There were 419 penalty minutes and 16 players ejected that game, which saw a 5-3 Flyers victory. Memorable moments? Flyers general manager Bob Clarke trying to get past security to get into the Sens’ dressing room after the game to confront coach Jacques Martin or “Count Jacqula” as he was nicknamed.
Communication gaffe
Between Holtby and defenseman Mike Green. Holtby went to play a puck behind the net, then thought second of it as Green had to take it under pressure from Scott Hartnell, who made him lose it. Hartnell found Giroux at the doorstep for his 23rd goal, making it 3-0 at 5:26 of the second period.
Faceoffs
The Flyers won an staggering 73 percent of the draws in the first period (11 of 15),
Fights
Lecavalier and Erskine fought to a draw; Luke Schenn decisioned Wilson.
Overdue
Steve Downie's empty-net goal was his first in 27 games.
Scratches
Goalie Ray Emery (groin pull); forward Jay Rosehill and defensemen Hal Gill and Erik Gustafsson were healthy scratches.