Early Goal Dooms Flyers in Loss to Capitals

Report From Philadelphia Flyers

* The Flyers lost a game 1-0 for the 41st time in their history and for the third time at the hands of the Capitals – The last time it happened at all was a 1-0 shootout loss at NYI back on November 24; the last time it happened in regulation was April 13, 2013 at Buffalo… Their last 1-0 loss to the Capitals was January 26, 1989 in Philadelphia.

* Out of those 41 games, this is just the third in which the Flyers had 21 or fewer shots. They also had 21 shots in the Nov. 24 SOL… The only other 1-0 loss with fewer Flyers shots was when they had 20 in a 1-0 loss at Detroit on Jan. 24, 1998.

* The Flyers had a total of 23 shots blocked, two more than actually made it on net… They also had 11 shots that missed.

* Rob Zepp now has a 2.35 GAA and a .910 save percentage in his three NHL games… Tonight marked his first NHL loss.

* Claude Giroux was 38.1 percent on faceoffs, which is his third-lowest single-game percentage of the season. He entered the game at 55.9 percent on the season.

* The Flyers return to action tomorrow night when they host Vancouver (7PM, CSN, 97.5 FM)

GAME RECAP

WASHINGTON — Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby made 21 saves for his fourth shutout of the season in a 1-0 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers at Verizon Center on Wednesday.

Holtby’s shutout was his third in the past 12 games. He has started 20 consecutive games.

Jason Chimera scored for the Capitals (24-11-8), who are 14-1-4 since Dec. 4 and three points behind the New York Islanders for the Metropolitan Division lead.

Goaltender Rob Zepp made 25 saves for the Flyers (17-20-7).

The Flyers struggled to break out of their zone early in the game, and a turnover led to Washington grabbing a 1-0 lead.

Stationed near the Flyers bench, Matt Niskanen intercepted Mark Streit‘s clearing attempt and flipped the puck back toward the net. Chimera tipped it through his legs and Zepp’s at 3:13 of the first.

It was Chimera’s fourth goal, his first since Dec. 18.

Philadelphia started the second period as the aggressor, forcing Holtby to make several key saves. Holtby stymied Wayne Simmonds‘ stuff-in attempt before turning away Claude Giroux as he zoomed through the slot on a breakaway.

Niskanen leveled Scott Laughton with an open-ice hit with 2:50 remaining in a physical second period. Laughton left the ice after the hit and did not return because an upper-body injury.

Zepp matched Holtby in making impressive saves in the second period. In the final minute, Zepp kicked out his left leg to stop Eric Fehr from in tight, leaving the Capitals forward shaking his head in disbelief as he watched the replay from the bench.

The Capitals visit the Nashville Predators on Friday. It will be Barry Trotz’s first game against the Predators, who he coached for 15 seasons.