Flyers Score in Tiebreaker For Win, NHL Scores

By ESPN

Steve Mason and the Flyers didn't want to waste their recent winning streak.

Mason made 36 saves before stopping three straight shots in the shootout, Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds scored in the tiebreaker and Philadelphia beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Michael Raffl and Claude Giroux scored in regulation for Philadelphia, which snapped a two-game skid that followed a 10-game winning streak.

"It's definitely good to get back in the win column," Mason said. "You go on a ten-game winning streak and you can't let it slide. You can't let it slide and counteract everything we did on the winning streak."

Philadelphia's streak ended with Saturday's loss at Dallas. The Flyers then fell to the Predators in a shootout at home on Monday night.

It looked like that might happen again when T.J. Oshie, one of the league's best in the shootout, beat Mason after Shayne Gostibehere opened the tiebreaker by failing to convert. But Mason stopped Washington's next three shooters, and Philadelphia won it when Simmonds shot high past Braden Holtby in sudden death after Voracek tied the shootout on Philadelphia's third attempt.

"I was just praying (Simmonds) was going to give me one more goal to work with and we were able to pull it out," Mason said.

OIlers 3, Coyotes 2

Edmonton's fourth line, centered by feisty Mark Letestu, does not get the recognition it sometimes may deserve. Fourth lines rarely due, especially on teams with stars like Connor McDavid.

Those fourth liners were the difference Wednesday night, helping the Oilers end one long, frustrating streak.

Letestu had a goal, two assists and a fight, anchoring a fourth line that combined for seven points in a 3-2 win over Arizona, the Oilers' first regulation win against the Coyotes in 26 games.

"We've won now, so we don't have to answer all your questions," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "Tonight's game was not different probably than many during the streak, but we found a way to win."

Arizona had gone 21-0-4 its previous 25 games against the Oilers, including a pair of wins this season. Edmonton jumped on the Coyotes with two goals in the first period and pushed the lead to 3-0 in the second to beat Arizona for the first time since Jan. 25, 2011.

Arizona's points streak had been tied for sixth-most against one opponent in NHL history.

The fourth line made the victory happen.

Wednesday, December 21 Scoreboard

Philadelphia 3, Washington 2 (SO)

Edmonton 3, Arizona 2

Thursday, December 22 Schedule (All Times Central)

Carolina at Buffalo, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia at New Jersey, 6 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Columbus, 6 p.m.

Minnesota at Motnreal, 6:30 p.m.

Anaheim at Ottawa, 6:30 p.m.

St. Louis at Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m.

Boston at Florida, 6:30 p.m.

Los Angeles at Nashville, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Colorado, 8 p.m.

Winnipeg at Vancouver, 9 p.m.