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Five-goal third period pushes Capitals past Flyers

Sep 29, 2007 - 2:12 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Flyers played a strong first 44 minutes of the game. Then, Alex Ovechkin and the rest of the Washington Capitals took over.

Ovechkin recorded a goal and two assists during a five-goal outburst in the third period as the Capitals rallied for a 7-5 preseason victory over the Flyers on Friday.

Mike Richards got things started for Philadelphia with a shorthanded tally with 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the first period. Defenseman Denis Gauthier doubled the lead at 1:55 of the second before David Steckel got Washington on the scoreboard with the first of his two goals of the night.

Signed to an eight-year, $52 million contract in July, Daniel Briere sparked the Flyers' power play later in the session, netting man-advantage tallies at 10:27 and 14:17 to provide a 4-1 bulge.

Ovechkin drew the Capitals within two just 37 seconds after Briere's second goal, but Simon Gagne tallied four minutes into the third to restore the Flyers' three-goal cushion.

It was all Washington thereafter, however. Matt Pettinger and Viktor Kozlov scored 23 seconds apart to cut the deficit to 5-4, and Ovechkin completed his two-goal effort with 2:49 left, forging a tie.

Tomas Fleischmann snapped it 61 seconds later, and Steckel added an empty-netter with two seconds to go, sealing the victory.

Kozlov added two assists and Olaf Kolzig made 14 saves for the Capitals, who conclude their preseason schedule Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.

Gagne and Mike Knuble each set up a pair of tallies for Philadelphia, which plays its exhibition finale against the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Antero Niittymaki allowed six goals on 40 shots for the Flyers.

Washington left wing Alexander Semin left the game in the first period with an undisclosed injury and did not return.