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

Philadelphia snaps four-game losing streak with victory over Washington

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:23pm

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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 make a push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals came into the game on a three-game winning streak and were hoping to continue their strong play, but ultimately fell short against the resilient Flyers.

The details

With the game tied 2-2 in the third period, Trevor Zegras won a puck battle in the corner and set up Drysdale for the game-winning goal. Vladar made a key save on Alex Ovechkin late to preserve the lead, and Ristolainen added an empty-net goal to seal the victory. The Flyers opened the scoring in the first period on a goal by Tippett, and Grundstrom made it 2-0 early in the second before the Capitals responded with goals from Protas and Beauvillier to tie it.

  • 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 came 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 28-year-old goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers who made 26 saves in the victory.

Alex Ovechkin

The 40-year-old superstar forward for the Washington Capitals who was denied a late game-tying goal by Vladar.

Anthony Beauvillier

The 29-year-old forward for the Washington Capitals who scored a goal and added an assist in the loss.

Rasmus Ristolainen

The 31-year-old defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers who scored an empty-net goal to seal the victory.

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What they’re saying

“We needed this win badly to get back on track. The guys showed a lot of heart and determination to get the job done.”

— John Tortorella, Head Coach, Philadelphia Flyers (Flyers Post-Game Press Conference)

“We had our chances, but Vladar was really sharp tonight. We'll need to regroup and come back stronger in our next game.”

— Peter Laviolette, Head Coach, Washington Capitals (Capitals Post-Game Press Conference)

What’s next

The Flyers will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a playoff spot, with their next game scheduled for Thursday, February 6th against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Capitals will try to bounce back in their next contest, which is set for Saturday, February 8th against the New York Rangers.

The takeaway

This was a crucial victory for the Flyers, who showed resilience and determination to snap their losing streak against a tough Capitals team. The game-winning goal by Drysdale and the strong goaltending performance by Vladar were key factors in the win, which could provide a much-needed boost for Philadelphia as they aim to secure a postseason berth.