As it turns out, you can’t win a playoff game if you don’t shoot the puck on net.
Flyers vs. Capitals 2016 final score: Washington outlasts Philadelphia in a testy Game 1
Injuries and penalties caught up to Philly in a close game.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Flyers learned this lesson the hard way on Thursday, falling to the top-seeded Washington Capitals in Game 1 of their first round Stanley Cup playoff series. The 2-0 final score belies the phenomenal performance by both goaltenders.
Steve Mason was the reason Philadelphia hung in as long as they did, making 29 saves on 31 shots. His counterpart (and likely Vezina Trophy winner) Braden Holtby was just as excellent, stopping all 19 shots he faced.
The Flyers actually played fairly well in the first period, outshooting the Presidents’ Trophy winners 11-8. But the Capitals took control back very quickly and never relinquished it. The Flyers ran into penalty trouble in the second period, but while they managed to kill off all three of them they couldn’t retain any momentum at the other end of the rink.
The Capitals finally broke through when a number of things happened. First, Flyers forward Sean Couturier left and didn't return after suffering what looked to be a shoulder injury. Philadelphia took another penalty, and the Capitals cashed in with a John Carlson goal from the point to make the score 1-0.
Philadelphia was held to five shots in the final two periods of the game, but Mason and their penalty killing kept them afloat deep into the third period. But Jay Beagle’s goal with three minutes left put Game 1 on ice and put Philadelphia in a 1-0 series hole.
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