BOX SCORE
WASHINGTONOn a Tuesday when the Flyers found they wont have Claude Girouxs services for a whileout indefinitely with a concussionit was business as usual for Peter Laviolettes team.
Spreading the scoring wealth across the board, the Flyers cruised to a 5-1 victory over the hapless Capitals at Verizon Center for their sixth straight victory.
Thirteen Flyers posted at least a point.
It says a lot about this team, said Jaromir Jagr. I wasnt very confident about this game when we lost Gwe lost the best player in the league.
Its not easy to play without him. Guys really stepped it up, really good hockey. Thats what you need when youre missing players.
Ilya Bryzgalov, who left early in the third period of Saturdays win against Tampa Bay with a leg injury, was back in net and finished with 31 saves. Hes won six straight, as well.
NHL
Bryz was outstanding in net, Laviolette said. He really covered for the guys that were missing. To me it was a bit of a statement that we can keep winning.
I thought it was one of our better team games, start to finish, all lines, all defensemen, goaltender. Everybody was going. I was really happy with it.
They are missing five players with injuries.
It had some significance, Laviolette said of the victory. Youre missing Chris Pronger, Claude, the leading scorer in the league, I do think its important to come out and play a good game and get a win. Theres a belief in the room.
Nothing seems to rattle the Flyers these days.
Its been good that weve had this kind of adversity and were responding, Braydon Coburn said. Its very positive. It comes back to great guys in the room and having pride and guys who step up when others go down.
Bryzgalov lost his shutout with six minutes left when Dennis Widemans point drive nicked off his glove and Jeff Halpern iced the rebound. Yet, Phillys favorite Russian seemed very relaxed in net, while keeping rebounds out of harms way.
Meanwhile, Dale Hunters Caps played a trap, totally unsuited for the likes of Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. Instead of attacking the Flyers with speed, they sat back.
Even Kimmo Timonen said that line seems misused playing a 1-2-2.
These guys are very explosive players, he said.
And they got scorched.
Ovechkin and Semin were a combined minus-five without a point.
Its nice when you dont let Ovechkin score, Bryzgalov said. I heard lots of things about him like the media go tough on him.
Hes a great player and may be hitting a hard time in his career. Let him be, let him relax. Maybe he is carrying too much pressure and blaming himself. But hes a great player.
While Bryzgalov was stellar his counter-part, Tomas Vokoun yielded two Mister Softees.
After a strong Caps power play late in the first period, Scott Hartnell took a pass from Jagr on the wing and beat Vokoun through the five-hole. It was a deflating moment for Washington.
It was Hartnells 200th career goal. Hes 400-plus from Jagr, butsince moving to the first line in October 22 games ago, Hartnell has 23 points and has scored a goal in six consecutive games for the Flyers.
On this night, rookie Sean Couturier centered Hartnell and Jagr in Girouxs absence.
Jody Shelley helped the Flyers to a 2-0 lead in the second period, screening out Vokoun on Marc-Andre Bourdons shot from the point.
The rookie defenseman wristed a knuckleball that nicked off a Caps center Mathieu Perreaults stick for Bourdons first NHL goal.
I was happy, but I didn't even know it was me who scored, Bourdon admitted. I shot the puck and I thought maybe it tipped off one of their guys or thought maybe Shelley scored. But I was happy we scored.
Bourdon has played a tight, physical, yet simple game since being called up from the Phantoms and paired with Matt Carle.
Like Hartnell, winger Wayne Simmonds has had a hot stick lately, as well. He pocketed his fourth goal in five games at 14:19 by redirecting Andrej Meszaros point drive to make it 3-0.
Thats two games in succession where the Flyers led by a 3-0 count.
Vokoun wasnt the only one embarrassed in this one.
With three minutes left in the period, Ovechkin, who often has dominating performances against the Flyers, came up the left boards, tried a fancy move and was stripped of the puck by Coburn.
Off transition just seconds later, Max Talbot let one go in the high slot through traffic to make it 4-0. Much like Bourdons shot, it was knuckler.
Ever done that before to Ovie?
I cant remember, Coburn replied. Hes a talented player. You try to keep the best cap him and he has a bag full of moves. Got lucky.
Hunter pulled Vokoun for Michal Neuvirth to start the third period.
The Flyers added a fifth goal early in the third period on Jakub Voraceks first goal of the month on a tip of Carles point shot.
The feeling in the locker room was good the whole game, everyone on the bench was excited, Timonen said. I think it showed on the ice.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.