Game 6 Instant Replay: Capitals 1, Flyers 0

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Michal Neuvirth could fend them off for only so long.

The overmatched Flyers were finally swatted away by the Capitals, losing, 1-0, Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center to drop their best-of-seven first-round playoff series in six games.

Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington escaped what would have been an unprecedented comeback by the eighth-seeded Flyers, who answered three straight losses with wins in Games 4 and 5 before bowing out in Game 6.

After his 44-save shutout win to send the series back to Philadelphia, Neuvirth held the Capitals down until Nicklas Backstrom beat him with a slap shot in the second period.

That’s all it took for Washington, as the Flyers couldn’t find the back of the net. The orange and black threatened in the third period and pulled Neuvirth with 1:35 remaining, but to no success.

They received a roaring applause from fans following the final buzzer.

The Flyers are without a postseason series victory since 2011-12 and fell to 1-8 in best-of-seven series when losing the opening three games. The Flyers are one of only four teams in NHL history to complete such a rally when they did it in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals, overcoming the Bruins in seven games.

The Capitals improved to 2-8 over their last 10 series-clinching games.

Notable goals
The play was all Alex Ovechkin.

The NHL’s leading goal scorer dodged a body near the blue line, delivered a perfect pass to Marcus Johansson, who found Backstrom camped in the circle for a one-timer past Neuvirth at 8:59 of the second period.

It was a massive momentum swing as a little over four minutes prior, the Flyers went quiet on a five-on-three power play.

Top line silent
The Flyers' top line (which switched at times) stayed quiet again Sunday afternoon, as was the case for the series.

Combined, Claude Giroux (one assist), Wayne Simmonds (two assists) and Jakub Voracek (one goal) had four points in the series.

Goalie report
Neuvirth gave the Flyers a fighting chance in the series.

Once the Flyers turned to Neuvirth, they sawed a 3-0 series deficit to 3-2, as the 28-year-old stopped 75 of 76 shots faced in Games 4 and 5. In Game 6, he made 28 saves.

Braden Holtby was superb the entire series. After facing just 10 shots in Game 5, he converted 26 saves for the shutout. He stopped 149 of 154 shots over the six games with two shutouts.

Power play
The Flyers’ power play got only worse and essentially cost them a chance at upsetting Washington.

Early in the second period, the Flyers went on a four-minute man advantage, half of which was a five-on-three.

Still, nothing, as the Flyers totaled just three shots on goal over that sequence and went goalless in three total chances for the game.

The power play finished 1 for 24 in the series and four for their last 41, including the regular season.

The Capitals went the final three games without a man-advantage marker, going 0 for 5 on Sunday.

Penalty kill
The Flyers shut out the Capitals from Games 4-6.

While the Flyers couldn’t score on a five-on-three, they also thwarted one by the Capitals at the end of the first period and beginning of the second, and Neuvirth was why.

The Capitals’ PK manhandled the Flyers’ power play from the series’ start.

Hits
The Flyers riled up the fans with early blows.

Brayden Schenn, who came in tied for the Flyers’ lead in hits (20) during the series, flattened Backstrom 3:02 into the game.

Colin McDonald absolutely leveled Andre Burakovsky 5:18 later.

The loud hits lessened as the game became shorter. The Flyers outhit the Capitals, 38-32.

Scratches
For the Flyers:

Healthy: Forwards R.J. Umberger, Jordan Weal, Cole Bardreau, Chris Conner and Taylor Leier, defensemen Evgeny Medvedev, Mark Alt, Davis Drewiske, Robert Hagg and Samuel Morin, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz.

Injured: Forwards Sean Couturier (upper body) and Scott Laughton (unspecified).

For the Capitals:

Healthy: Forwards Michael Latta and Stanislav Galiev, and defenseman Taylor Chorney.

Injured: Defenseman Brooks Orpik (upper body).

Next up
The offseason.

The Capitals face the Penguins in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

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