Register for E-mail alerts. Comment on articles. Sign up today, it's easy.
Close
The Washington Times Online Edition

Backstrom, Theodore flummox Flyers

Associated Press
Alex Ovechkin (right) scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season Tuesday night.Associated Press Alex Ovechkin (right) scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season Tuesday night.

Nicklas Backstrom shrugged off a recent slump, and Jose Theodore counted a third-period penalty shot among 41 saves in the Washington Capitals’ 4-2 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night at Verizon Center.

Backstrom had four points, and Alexander Semin scored the winner 5:24 into the third period to help the Caps to their fifth straight win. Semin’s shot grazed Philadelphia defenseman Kimmo Timonen en route, and it fooled Philadelphia goaltender Ray Emery.

Theodore was the hero in the final period, turning aside each furious Flyers rally. Darroll Powe earned a penalty shot less than 90 seconds after Semin’s goal, but Theodore stopped his attempt to go five-hole.

Scott Hartnell buried a cross-ice one-timer from Mike Richards at 3:06 of the second period. The Caps’ penalty killers had just escaped from a nearly 90-second shift, but the Flyers scored on the ensuing rush.

Shortly after the Flyers killed off a long five-on-three, they scored nine seconds into a power play of their own. Braydon Coburn’s blast from the right point squeezed past Theodore at 14:29.

Backstrom brought his club back in the waning moments of the period. Jeff Schultz’s dump into the offensive zone was deflected into the air, but Backstrom corralled it by bouncing it twice on his stick and then letting it fall to the ice before sending a perfect pass to Alex Ovechkin as he cut toward the net.

Ovechkin put it past Emery for his 10th of the season at 16:08. It was only Backstrom’s second point since registering eight in the first three games of the season.

Backstrom leveled the score a little more than two minutes later. With the Caps on the power play, Backstrom one-timed a pass from Semin through Emery’s legs at 18:12 for his third goal of the year.

Notes — Boyd Gordon missed his fifth straight game with a back injury. Forwards Eric Fehr (upper body) and Quintin Laing were also missing.

Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
Get Adobe Flash player
You Might Also Like
  • Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Mesa, Ariz., on Monday. Arizona holds its GOP presidential primary on Feb. 28, the same day as Michigan, the home state of the former Massachusetts governor. (Associated Press)

    Romney finds tough times in Michigan

    By Andrea Billups - The Washington Times

  • TRAILING: Rick Santorum has won four states but just three delegates so far. Mitt Romney also has won four states but has 73 delegates. He is waging a strong effort to beat Mr. Santorum in Michigan. (Associated Press)

    Victory doesn’t always mean gain in delegates

    By Seth McLaughlin - The Washington Times

  • Turkish riot police stand guard as Kurdish protesters gather for a demonstration in Istanbul on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the 1999 capture of Abdullah Ocalan, then head of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. (Associated Press)

    Kurdish conflict takes toll on Turkey’s image

    By Yasemin Ergin - Special to The Washington Times

  • In Case You Missed It
    Happening Now