Flyers Defeat Capitals 4-2 Behind Drysdale's Late Goal

Philadelphia snaps four-game losing skid with victory over Washington

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Jamie Drysdale scored the game-winning power-play goal with 5:23 remaining as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the visiting Washington Capitals 4-2 on Tuesday. Dan Vladar made 26 saves for the Flyers, who also got goals from Owen Tippett, Carl Grundstrom, and Rasmus Ristolainen. Anthony Beauvillier and Aliaksei Protas scored for the Capitals.

Why it matters

The win snaps a four-game losing streak for the Flyers, who are looking to climb back into playoff position in the Eastern Conference. For the Capitals, the loss ends a three-game winning streak and is a setback in their efforts to maintain their hold on a wild card spot.

The details

With the game tied 2-2 in the third period, Flyers forward Trevor Zegras won a puck battle in the corner and set up Drysdale for the go-ahead goal. Vladar made a key save on Capitals star Alex Ovechkin in the final minutes to preserve the lead, and Ristolainen added an empty-net goal to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.
  • Drysdale's game-winning goal came with 5:23 remaining in the third period.
  • Ristolainen's empty-net goal was scored with 16.8 seconds left in the game.

The players

Jamie Drysdale

A 24-year-old defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers who scored the game-winning goal in the third period.

Dan Vladar

The Flyers' goaltender who made 26 saves to help Philadelphia snap a four-game losing streak.

Alex Ovechkin

The star forward for the Washington Capitals who had a scoring chance late in the game but was denied by Vladar.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We really needed this win to get back on track. The guys battled hard and Vladar was outstanding in net for us.”

— John Tortorella, Head Coach, Philadelphia Flyers (therinklive.com)

“We had our chances but just couldn't find a way to get the go-ahead goal. Vladar made some big saves when it counted most.”

— Peter Laviolette, Head Coach, Washington Capitals (therinklive.com)

What’s next

The Flyers will look to build on this win when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, February 6th. The Capitals will try to bounce back when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, February 8th.

The takeaway

This was a crucial victory for the Flyers, who had been struggling of late. The team showed resilience in battling back from a 2-0 deficit and getting the game-winning goal from Drysdale in the third period. Meanwhile, the Capitals missed an opportunity to gain ground in the playoff race, as their three-game winning streak came to an end.