Capitals 1 - 4 Flyers
Final
  for this game

Gagne helps Flyers down Caps in return

Feb 28, 2013 - 5:34 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Simon Gagne scored a goal in his first game back in Philadelphia to help the Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Acquired by the Flyers in a trade with the Kings on Tuesday, Gagne scored his first goal of the season and first with the Flyers since he was traded to Tampa Bay in 2010.

"Flew in late last night from L.A. and tried to get some sleep," said Gagne. "It was tough, though, because I'm so happy to be back here. Getting that goal made me real happy and hopefully it's a sign of things to come."

Claude Giroux posted a goal and an assist while Wayne Simmonds and Maxime Talbot also scored for the Flyers, who were coming off a 4-2 loss to Toronto on Monday. Ilya Bryzgalov gave up a late goal on 24 shots in the win.

Joel Ward had the lone goal of the night for the Capitals, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Washington goaltender Braden Holtby was pulled late in the second period after giving up four goals on 18 shots. Philipp Grubauer stopped all 14 shots he faced in relief.

"It's disappointing to play that way," said Ward. "We have up that quick goal and you can't do that in this building because it just feeds the crowd and they get all over you."

It took the Flyers just 23 second to get on the board when Scott Hartnell swept the puck to the front of the net from the right side and Giroux snapped the rolling disc in.

Skating on the power play, Philly took a 2-0 lead less than four minutes later when a one-timer from Hartnell in the slot saw Simmonds bang in the rebound for his eighth of the year.

Gagne made his presence known in the second period with his first goal of the season. On the man advantage, Brayden Schenn sent a short backhand pass from the right side of the net over to the left where Gagne's one-timer went off the stick of Holtby before going in at the 3:54 mark.

The Flyers made it a 4-0 game with just over five minutes to play in the middle stanza as Talbot's slap shot from the slot went dead center in the back of the net for his first of the season.

Ward blew the shutout attempt with his sixth goal of the season and 2:09 showing on the third period clock.

Game Notes

Gagne had went scoreless in 11 games with the Kings prior to the trade ... Philly hosts Ottawa on Saturday ... Washington plays in Winnipeg on Saturday ... Washington had taken a 3-2 win at home against Philadelphia on Feb. 1 ... The Flyers were 2-for-3 on the power play while Washington went 0-for-4.






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