WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mark Recchi and John LeClair took full advantage of the short-handed Washington Capitals.
Recchi and LeClair each had a goal and three assists in leading
the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 victory Sunday night.
"What, are you surprised that we played a good game?" LeClair
asked. "I think we're all feeling pretty comfortable. It's a good
mix, and it definitely worked well for us tonight."
Michal Handzus and Kim Johnsson also scored to help the Flyers
win for the fifth time in their last six games.
Washington played with just five defensemen. Sergei Gonchar
injured a shoulder Friday night in a loss in Florida, and Josef Boumedienne was scratched because of food poisoning.
"It's huge, we really only have two defensemen that have a lot of
NHL experience," Washington's Mike Grier said about Gonchar.
"He's the leading point-getter for defensemen in the league, and to
lose him is a huge blow."
Recchi opened the scoring at 5:30 of the first period, beating
goalie Rastislav Stana with a wrist shot after LeClair's strong
play to keep the puck in offensive zone.
LeClair made it 2-0 less than three minutes later, tipping a
shot behind Stana, who started in place of Olaf Kolzig for the
first time since being recalled from Portland on Jan. 6.
"He couldn't score two goals for us, so he wasn't the
difference," Washington coach Glen Hanlon said about Stana. "We
only had 13 shots on net, and I think we could have done a better
job in that area."
Robert Esche made 12 saves for the Flyers, allowing only Grier's breakaway goal in the first period.
Philadelphia's Tony Amonte injured a knee in the first period
and did not return. Amonte was hurt when Washington's Brendan Witt
cross-checked Radovan Somik in the back, sending Somik into
Amonte's right knee. Amonte was down on the ice in front of
Washington's goal for several minutes before being helped off.
Game notes
Anson Carter played his first game in his second stint with
Washington. Carter, acquired Friday in the trade that sent Jaromir
Jagr to the New York Rangers, played 19 games for the Capitals
during the 1996-97 season before being traded to Boston. ...
Philadelphia is 4-5-1-2 in the second game of back-to-back games
this season. ... Washington's Stephen Peat was back in the lineup
after missing a game because of a chest injury.