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Flyers seek quick start in clash with Capitals

Mar 4, 2012 - 3:22 PM (Sports Network) - It has been quite some time since the Flyers scored the first goal of the game. It's been 60 minutes since the Capitals lit the lamp at all.

Philadelphia and Washington aim for fast starts this evening as the playoff hopefuls tangle at the Verizon Center.

The Flyers were last in action on Thursday against the Islanders and saw New York score just 1:35 into the game. It marked the ninth straight game that Philadelphia has allowed the first goal and it earned a timeout and verbal lashing from head coach Peter Laviolette early in the game.

Philadelphia responded with the next two goals on the way to a 6-3 victory. Matt Read scored twice and had an assist, while Jaromir Jagr and Andrej Meszaros both scored and had a helper.

"We have been talking about it and it has been awhile since we have scored the first goal," said Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who notched his 500th career point with an assist. "We want to win big games, we can't be down all the time. We know that. We just need the better starts, pretty much for every period. We have to fix that."

Philadelphia was returning home from a 2-2 road trip out west and got 21 saves from Ilya Bryzgalov. Scott Hartnell set a new career high with his 31st goal of the season and Jagr's 1,642 career points moved him past Joe Sakic for eighth on the league's all-time list.

The Flyers are now tied with the Devils for fifth overall in the Eastern Conference, four back of Pittsburgh and only one ahead of the Senators.

"It is a very nice and important two points for the standings," Bryzgalov noted. "The last couple of games against the Islanders were tough. It wasn't that much easier tonight, but the team put in a very good effort and I think we deserved the win."

Philadelphia will have to finish out the regular season without forward James van Riemsdyk, who will miss 4-to-6 weeks of action due to a broken bone in his left foot sustained blocking a shot in the first period versus the Islanders. It is the latest setback for the 22-year-old, who has already missed 20 games this season, including 15 because of a concussion.

Van Riemsdyk has 11 goals and 13 assists in 43 games this season.

The Capitals, meanwhile, were denied a fourth straight victory with a loss to the Devils on Friday. Three days after rallying for an overtime win against the Islanders, Washington was dealt a 5-0 defeat by New Jersey, which got 23 saves by Johan Hedberg.

"He made the big saves early and it changed the tide of the whole game," Washington head coach Dale Hunter said. "We had our chances, we didn't bury and they had their chances and they went in."

Michal Neuvirth stopped 15 shots for Washington, including only four on seven shots in the first period. He could get the start again tonight after Tomas Vokoun missed Saturday's practice with a lower-body injury.

Washington, which plays the third of a five-game homestand, is a point behind Winnipeg for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference and three back of Southeast Division-leading Florida.

The Flyers are 3-1-1 in their past five games against the Capitals, with the clubs trading road victories this season. Philadelphia logged a 5-1 win at Washington on Dec. 13, breaking the game open with a three-goal second period. Bryzgalov made 31 saves.