Andrej Meszaros scored in overtime on Tuesday to give the red-hot Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals and a share of first place in the NHL.
The Flyers squandered a 2-0 lead by allowing third-period goals to Mike Knuble and Alex Ovechkin, but Meszaros delivered an unassisted tally at 1:07 into overtime to give Philadelphia their third straight win and seventh in eight games.
“I wanted to shoot, so I yelled at [teammate Matt Carle] to pass it to me,” Meszaros told reporters after recording his second goal of the season. “I was just trying to hit the net.”
Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux netted goals in the first and second periods respectively and the Flyers (30-11-5) tied the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Canucks.
Washington (25-14-8) have lost four of their last five games and were bumped from first place in the Southeast Division by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“We’re going to keep trying, but it’s frustrating for everybody,” Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Unless you’ve been out there you don’t know how tough it is sometimes.”
Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth was pulled after one period because of a lower-body injury and Semyon Varlamov came on and finished with 20 saves.
Ovechkin had scored just one goal in his last seven games entering the night, but the two-time Hart Trophy winner as the league’s most valuable player, converted the game-tying wrister at 8:38 in the third.
AVALANCHE 4, CANUCKS 3, OT
In Denver, David Jones scored two goals, including the winner with 2:52 remaining in overtime, as Colorado downed Vancouver.
Jones lunged at the puck to score the decisive goal late in a power play after Tomas Fleischmann sent a pass into the goal crease.
John-Michael Liles and Milan Hejduk also scored for the Avalanche, who beat the Canucks for the first time in five attempts.
Alexander Edler, Ryan Kesler and Sergei Shirokov scored for Vancouver.
LIGHTNING 3, BLUE JACKETS 2, SO
In Tampa, Ryan Malone scored the only goal of a shootout in the fourth round to lift Tampa Bay over Columbus.
Steven Stamkos had two goals during regulation for Tampa Bay.
R.J. Umberger and Derick Brassard scored for the Blue Jackets.
SABRES 2, CANADIENS 1
In Buffalo, Jason Pominville scored a power-play goal a minute into overtime to give Buffalo victory over injury-depleted Montreal.
The Canadiens played much of the game minus two forwards. Max Pacioretty was taken to hospital for precautionary reasons after being struck in the side by a teammate’s shot early in the first period. Montreal also lost Michael Cammalleri to an upper body injury, after he was cross-checked from behind in the first period.
Tyler Ennis had a goal and assist for Buffalo, which snapped a four-game losing streak against the Canadiens, dating to last season.
David Desharnais scored for Montreal.
DUCKS 2, SENATORS 1, SO
In Ottawa, Bobby Ryan scored in the shootout to give Anaheim a win over Ottawa.
Ryan shot past Brian Elliott on Anaheim’s second attempt after Mike Fisher hit the right post on Ottawa’s second shot.
Jonas Hiller denied Erik Karlsson on Ottawa’s final attempt to seal the win.
Corey Perry gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead with a highlight-reel goal for his 24th of the season and 50th point, both team highs.
Fisher drew Ottawa even late in the second.
In other NHL action, it was:
‧ Penguins 4, Red Wings 1
‧ Wild 4, Oilers 1
‧ Predators 5, Coyotes 2
‧ Bruins 3, Hurricanes 2
‧ Blues 2, Kings 1
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