Capitals rally for OT win against Flyers, wrap up second in East

WASHINGTON -- Conor Sheary scored at 4:00 of overtime, and the Washington Capitals locked up second place in the MassMutual East Division with a 2-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers at Capital One Arena on Saturday.

Sheary's shot trickled by goalie Alex Lyon to win it after a pass from Nic Dowd.
Lars Eller tied the game 1-1 when he scored from the right face-off circle with 40 seconds left in the third period and goalie Craig Anderson pulled for the extra attacker.

Anderson made 28 saves for the Capitals (35-15-5), who were coming off a 4-2 loss to the Flyers on Friday but have won three of their past four games.
"There was just so many encouraging things to see today, and it wasn't easy for us," Eller said. "We were down most of the game and killing off penalties late in the third. We weren't given anything today. We really had to work for it, and I think that makes it feel so much sweeter for all of us. It's a good feeling in our room right now."
The Pittsburgh Penguins clinched first place in the East on Saturday. The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders have the other Stanley Cup Playoff berths from the eight-team division.
Scott Laughton scored for the Flyers (24-23-8), who have lost five of seven. Lyon made 38 saves.
"It's disappointing that we were close to winning this game," Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault said, "and it would have been real good for Alex to get another win here tonight, but unfortunately we weren't able to get the job done."
Washington went 6-2-0 against Philadelphia this season.
It was Anderson's second start of the season and first since a 4-3 win against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 21.
"I thought he was really good. I thought he gave us a chance to win," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. "He made big saves. Looked really confident in there. Handled the puck really well."
Laughton entered the zone 2-on-1 with Nicolas Aube-Kubel, kept the puck, and scored with a high wrist shot from the right circle at 3:42 of the third period.
"Not many chances both ways," Laughton said. "They had a couple of good looks, and Al made some good saves, but kind of a neutral-zone game where you're kind of chasing around. But I thought we played well enough to try to squeak one out, but unfortunately not."

Lyon was bidding for his first NHL shutout.
"Just super frustrating. As good as you play, you still give up a goal in the last 40 seconds, and then you give one up in overtime and you lose the game," Lyon said. "So there's still learning experiences to be had, and if I can just find a way to lock it down there for 40 more seconds, whether that's just clearing my head, it's still a valuable learning experience."
Washington forward T.J. Oshie did not play in the third period after sustaining a lower-body injury late in the second. Oshie got tangled up with Aube-Kubel and skated off while not putting weight on his left foot. Laviolette did not have an update.
The Capitals started the game with 11 forwards after center Nicklas Backstrom was scratched with a lower-body injury.
"It's kind of like a 'here we go again.' That's kind of the way it's been the last few games," Sheary said of the Oshie injury. "But we had a lot of guys step up and play a bigger role, and obviously a lot more minutes with a shortened bench."
NOTES: Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin took part in an optional morning skate but did not play for the seventh time in eight games. He played one 39-second shift in the first period of a 6-3 win at the New York Rangers on Monday. … Washington defenseman John Carlson was scratched with a lower-body injury. He and Backstrom are day to day. … Capitals defenseman Justin Schultz returned after missing three games with a lower-body injury. ... Washington forward Garrett Pilon played 10:40 in his NHL debut. … Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere served the second of a two-game suspension for boarding Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman during a 7-3 loss Tuesday.