The Washington Capitals fell to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in a shootout Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The loss dropped the Capitals record to 19-8-4. The Capitals next host the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday night at Verizon Center. Puck drop is 7:00PM.  

Andre Burakovsky returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the last three games. Zach Sanford, Brett Connolly and Taylor Chorney were the healthy scratches.

Braden Holtby got the start in goal for the Capitals. Steve Mason got the nod for the Flyers.

This was the first meeting between the two teams since the Capitals eliminated the Flyers in the first round of the 2016 playoffs.

QUICK TAKES

• Andre Burakovsky would end his 26-game goal drought with a goal in the first period.
• Eller’s goal in the second period was his first since November 5th vs. Florida, ending an 18-game drought.

FIRST PERIOD
A mostly uneventful first seven minutes to the contest, as the Capitals had the advantage in offensive zone time. The Flyers would be the benefactors of the games first penalty, a hooking call on Daniel Winnik at 6:16 of the opening frame, but the league’s 4th best power play would come up empty on the man advantage. The Caps led 4-3 in shots on goal at the midway point of the first period. Andre Burakovsky would break the scoreless tie at the 18:24 mark of the opening frame. Burakovsky’s first goal since opening night was setup by a nice feed from Dmitry Orlov.

You just knew Burkie was going to get one. #CapsFlyers #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/AZcw7S3ppb

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 22, 2016

The first period would end with the Capitals leading 1-0. The Capitals doubled-up the Flyers in shots on goal, 14-7 for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Flyers stepped up the offensive zone pressure right out of the gate to start the second stanza, as the first three minutes were played in the Capitals zone. The Flyers would ultimately tie the game on a wrap-around by Michael Raffl at the 4:25 mark of the opening frame.

Lars Eller would regain the lead for the Caps on a gritty rebound goal at the 9:50 mark of the second period. Eller’s goal was his first since November 5th vs. Florida, ending an 18-game drought.

Eller makes it 2-1 in the 2nd. #CapsFlyers #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/F2AsGj5fkv

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 22, 2016

The Flyers would tie the game with 20 seconds left in the period on a goal by Claude Giroux.

The period would end with the game tied 2-2. The Flyers led in shots on goal 13-10 for the period. The Capitals led in shots on goal 24-20 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals gained the offensive advantage for a majority of the third period but were unable to notch a go-ahead goal. The Caps would get their first man-advantage with less than two minutes remaining in the third period but could not find the back of the net. Regulation ended with the game tied 2-2.

OVERTIME
Overtime would be scoreless, which sent the game to a shootout for the extra point.  The Flyers would win in the shootout.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM PHILADELPHIA

Thanks for joining us tonight @JoeBiden! This cone’s on us 🍦 pic.twitter.com/duiMb32eca

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 22, 2016

3rd period underway. #Caps and Flyers knotted at 2-2. #CapsFlyers #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/KJj35Y9YlG

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 22, 2016

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