Jason Chimera scores tip-in goal from center-ice

Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera recorded the game-winning goal in yesterday’s 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers with a re-direction from 100 feet away.

The play happened as Chimera was heading toward the bench for a line change and received a feed from Karl Azner, which Chimera chipped in to avoid an icing call, sending it directly at Flyers netminder Steve Mason.

“I tried to put it to the corner. I messed up,” said Mason after the game. “Can say it over and over again, ‘It’s a bad goal.’”

John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom had the other goals for Washington. Backstrom also tallied two assists in the contest.

Jakub Voracek had the lone goal for the Flyers, who are now down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series—but not for a lack of trying. Philly pelted Capitals goalie Braden Holtby with 42 shots on goal during the game, nearly doubling the 23 shots on net the Capitals put up.

“Holts was good, he was outstanding tonight,” said Capitals coach Barry Trotz. “We knew that they were going to have a real big push, we expected it, they came hard. They were throwing pucks from everywhere trying to create a lot of chaos around the net.”

For his part, Holtby could certainly relate to the pain Mason must have felt in that moment.

“Couldn’t even watch the replay of it,” Holtby said. “As a fellow goalie, you never want to see that happen. I’m glad it wasn’t a one-goal game in the end, because — you know. And even as an opposing team, in the end you want to earn your goals and whatnot. Weird bounces like that, it’s just—I feel for him. But in saying that, we’re going to have to be extra prepared next game because he’s an NHL goaltender, he’s mentally tough, he’s going to be coming back with a very good game, and we’ve got to be ready for that.”

Flyers coach Dave Hakstol was asked whether he’d consider a goaltending change for Game 3.

“I haven’t thought a whole lot about that,” he said. “Mase has been outstanding for us. We’re going to do, throughout our lineup, as we’ve done all year long, we do what’s best for our hockey team. Mase has been a guy that’s carried us through different parts of this season.”

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