Flyers Down Capitals in a Shootout

PHILADELPHIA — Who would hate two weeks of that?

The Flyers and Washington Capitals are on a path to the playoffs where plenty more things can shake out before the regular season ends next Sunday…but as it stands now, they’d be first-round opponents.

If Wednesday night were any indication, it would be a physical series with plenty of room for skill and a ton of skating. If Wednesday night was a pre-Game 1, the Flyers stunned the Capitals in a 2-1 shootout.

Sam Gagner notched the winner in the second round of the skills competition.

As much as the NHL is trying to increase scoring, there was no score between the two Metropolitan Division opponents for 40 minutes and there were plenty of “oohs” and “ahhs.”

Stealing the show, as he has all season, is goaltender Braden Holtby, who made 33 saves on the night. The Flyers tested him early and often, but the Washington goalie had the answers.

Extra-curricular activities were in playoff form, too. The waning moments of the second period featured a fly-by by Jason Chimera, who used the butt end of his stick to spear Shayne Gostisbehere in the gut. There were plenty of hooks and grabs and slashes, most of which going uncalled.

The first one that was called against the Flyers, a hooking infraction from Brandon Manning in the last minute of the second period, was costly. It was the first time the Flyers had to kill a penalty in 129 minutes and 18 seconds and they were scored upon.