POSTGAME 5: Round Robin Rollin

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED

A multi-goal performance by the Philadelphia Flyers' second line, including three assists by center Kevin Hayes, lifted the team to a 3-1 round-robin victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday. With the win, the Flyers have clinched at least the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and will now play Tampa Bay on Saturday for the top seed.

Scott Laughton scored the lone goal by either team in the first period. Travis Sanheim added to the lead in the second period with a 4-on-4 goal. Laughton tallied again at 8:37 but Travis Boyd scored a deflection goal to cut the gap to 3-1 just 12 seconds later.

Brian Elliott went long stretches without seeing a shot but stepped up as needed in making 16 saves on 17 shots. Braden Holtby had little chance on any of the Flyers' goals, and stopped 18 of 21 in a losing cause.

TURNING POINT

Thursday's game wasn't necessarily pretty. It got ragged at times with all the whistles and special teams play along with seemingly poor ice causing a lot of bouncing pucks. But the Flyers defended very well throughout, got a few timely saves and scored three pretty goals. The Flyers were especially good on the penalty kill, especially Hayes.

MELTZER'S TAKE

*The Capitals were characteristically aggressive in their puck pursuit right out of the gates. Washington was credited with each of the game's first nine hits (and 12 of the first 13) while the Flyers were charged with four early giveaways. More important, the Flyers (the NHL's stingiest team this season in terms of shots allowed) held the Caps without a shot for the first half of the first period. The Flyers outshot Washington overall, 8-6, and did a good job taking away the high-danger areas. On special teams, the Flyers came up empty on the game's first two power plays and struggled to get set up but defended well on their own first two penalties.

* Washington paid dearly for a Radko Gudas turnover to Kevin Hayes along the walls deep in the Cap zone.A gorgeous twisting no-look pass by Travis Konecny presented Laughton with a slam dunk at 13:03 of the first period.

* The second period was a parade of penalties and special teams play. It was, however, at 4-on-4 that the Flyers opened a 2-0 lead at 11:30. Hayes dangled at will with the puck, and finally fed a pinching Sanheim. The Flyers' defenseman got Holtby to commit, pulled the puck around and put it over the goalie. Elliott preserved the two-goal edge with a breakaway save on Jakub Vrana and then made a good save moments later on Dmitry Orlov.

* There wasn't much pace to the second period between all the whistles and bad ice. It called for the two sides to simplify things and play more north-south. The tenacious forechecking work of Nicolas Aube-Kubel was a good example of what was actually working.

* Both teams were guilty of own-zone turnovers in the third period, but recovered well defensively. Ivan Provorov shined in particular, and Joel Farabee had a nice takeaway. After an extended Flyers forecheck, an intelligent pinch and keep on the right side by Phil Myers maintained the pressure.as he got the puck to Konecny. Moments later, Hayes fed Laughton going to the net, and it was 3-0 Flyers. The Flyers held the Caps shotless for 8:49 of the third period until Boyd scored a deflection goal off a clean faceoff win for Washington.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

* With the regulation win, the Flyers will now face the Tampa Bay Lightning in their final Round Robin game (Saturday, Aug. 8) and the winner will be the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the loser will be the #2 seed.

* Scott Laughton has goals in all three games since the Return to Hockey - including the end of the regular season, Laughton now has 14 points (7g-7a) in his last 11 games.

* The line of Kevin Hayes (3a), Travis Konecny (2a) and Scott Laughton (2g-1a) recorded eight points in today's game (2g-6a)

* The Flyers killed off all 10 penalties to remain perfect in their Return to Play, going 4-for-4 on the kill in today's game.

* Going back to the regular season, the Flyers have now won four straight games against the Caps and earned points in five straight (4-0-1).

* Joel Farabee made his NHL playoff debut today and logged 11:30 of ice time... Connor Bunnaman also played his first NHL playoff game and logged 12:14 of TOI.

* Ivan Provorov led the team with over 27 minutes of ice time (27:26).