5 Observations: Konecny (hat trick), Tippett, Laughton Lead Soaring Flyers Past Caps

The Philadelphia Flyers continued their winning ways Wednesday, this time upending one of the NHL’s hottest teams.

Flyers 5, Washington Capitals 3.

The Flyers got goals from Travis Konecny (three) Scott Laughton (three points), and Owen Tippett (two points) as they won for the sixth time in their last seven games.

Washington entered the night having won 13 of its last 17, but the Flyers kept Alex Ovechkin from scoring as they beat the Caps for the first time in three tries this season.

The Caps cut a 4-1 lead to 4-3 by getting third-period goals from Marcus Johansson (10:42 left) and T.J. Oshie (5:18 left). But Konecny added an empty-net goal with 12.3 seconds remaining to complete his second career hat trick.

“He’s taking over games, to be honest,” Laughton said.

Philly ended  the Capitals’ seven-game road winning streak.

The Flyers are seven points out of a playoff spot — playoffs!? — but have played two more games than the team (Pittsburgh) in the last wild-card position.

The Flyers and Caps will meet Saturday in D.C.

Here are five quick observations:

1. Owen Tippett continues to impress.

Tippett was everywhere Wednesday. Disrupting the Caps with his speed as he drew three tripping penalties. Playing with physicality throughout the game. Scoring a goal on a right-circle laser that gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead with 14:29 left in the third.

It was his 13th goal, a career-best, and it gave him seven points (3-4) in his last seven games. Tippett, 23, had a goal, an assist, and six shots Wednesday.

2. Early in the game, the Flyers’ power play was sharp.

Scott Laughton scored from long range — Joel Farabee set a screen — just 13 seconds into the Flyers’ first power play. That give Philly a 1-0 lead with 12:34 remaining in the first.

Tippett drew a tripping penalty on Alex Ovechkin to put the Flyers on the power play. Later in the first, Tippett drew a tripping penalty on Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The Flyers didn’t score on the second power play, but they had good puck movement and some solid chances.

Laughts to like about this. #WSHvsPHI | #FueledByPhilly pic.twitter.com/U1WHGlzwKd

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 12, 2023

3. Carter Hart stones Alex Ovechkin.

A puck jumped over Ivan Provorov’s stick in the offensive end, enabling Ovechkin to go in on a lengthy breakaway.

Advantage, Carter Hart.

Hart made a left pad save to deny Ovechkin of his 810th career goal, allowing the Flyers to maintain their 1-0 lead with 9:12 to go in the first.

CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP. #WSHvsPHI | #FueledByPhilly pic.twitter.com/puiwUk4AVb

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 12, 2023

4. Travis Konecny is beyond hot.

The hat trick gave Konecny 24 goals, equaling his career high. The Philadelphia Flyers have 40 games remaining.

Yes, it’s mystifying how he isn’t on the All-Star team.

Just 21 seconds after the Capitals tied it at 1-1, Konecny scored after taking a pretty behind-the-net pass from Joel Farabee, putting the Flyers ahead with 33 seconds remaining in the first.

“The most important shift after a goal is the next one,” Farabee said. “Just a really good play by (Cam) York in the neutral zone . It starts the forecheck, and then we go from there.”

The goal, scored between three defenders, increased Konecny’s point streak to a career-high 10 games. (He later added two other scores, giving him 12 goals and 20 points in the last 10 games.).

Konecny, 25, has eight multiple-point performances in his last 10 games.

“He seems to be finding the spots, the puck seems to be finding him everywhere on the ice,” left winger James van Riemsdyk said. “And obviously we know what kind of ability he has, so it’s been fun to watch.”

Konecny (seven shots) added his second goal of the night with 12:32 remaining, finishing off a two-on-one after taking a slick pass from Laughton. It was the Flyers’ eighth shorthanded goal, tops in the NHL.

Torts says Danny Briere has worked with TK on playing inside more this year and not from the perimeter. Credits TK for his hard work. #Flyers

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) January 12, 2023

5. Darcy Kuemper kept the Caps close.

Early in the second period, Kuemper kept the Caps within 2-1 as he made point-blank stops on  Konecny, Tippett, and Nick Deslauriers.

The save on Konecny, who took a nice feed from Travis Sanheim, was a show-stopper as Kuemper somehow denied him on a two-on-none. He stopped 25 of 27 shots in the first 40 minutes.

But the Flyers kept swarming the net, and they have now scored four goals or more in seven of their last eight games.

Breakaways

The Caps missed star defenseman John Carlson, sidelined with an ear injury. … Patrick Brown played in his 100th career game. … Tyson Foerster and Cam York were named to the AHL All-Star Classic. York is now with the Flyers and not expected to play in the event. … Rasmus Ristolainen had five hits. … Philly won 56% of the faceoffs. … The Flyers sent winger Zayde Wisdom from the Phantoms to Reading in the ECHL. Wisdom, 20, has one goal and six assists in 26 games with the Phantoms this season. … Washington defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, whose brother, James, is a top-line left winger with the Flyers,  played in his 500th game. .. The Flyers are 16-6-2 when they hold Ovechkin without a point. Ovechkin had nine shot attempts (six on goal) and was minus-2.

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