Late Cap Rally Sinks Flyers

Konowalchuk got the rebound after he missed on a breakaway, and flipped the puck behind Brian Boucher with 7:25 left.

Joe Sacco, who pulled the Capitals into the tie midway through the period with his first goal in nearly two months, got an assist. Jeff Halpern, who won the faceoff on Sacco`s goal, also assisted on Konowalchuk`s.

Sacco and Peter Bondra added empty-net goals after the Flyers pulled Boucher for an extra skater with 1:31 left.

Boucher replaced starter Roman Cechmanek _ who stopped 12 of 14 shots before leaving with the flu _ to start the third period. Boucher made three fine stops on a Capitals` flurry in front of the net six minutes into the period.

The Flyers took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when Ruslan Fedotenko took a pass from Kevin Stevens from behind the net and beat Olaf Kolzig, who wound up with 33 saves.

Andrei Nikolishin tied the game moments later, then Washington went ahead 2-1 lead when Richard Zednik tipped it in a shot by Calle Johansson on a power play.

Philadelphia got even at late in the second period on Fedotenko`s second goal of the game. The goal snapped the Flyers` 0-for-35 drought on the power play.

Twenty-one seconds later, Andy Delmore converted a cross-ice pass from Rick Tocchet into a 3-2 lead.

Notes:
Bondra extended his scoring streak to five games. His next game-winning goal will equal Mike Gartner`s career team mark of 54. . . The Flyers played their second consecutive game without Keith Primeau, who injured his shoulder Wednesday in Florida. ... Sylvain Cote`s point in the first period was his first since Nov. 18. ... Washington`s Chris Simon hasn`t been whistled for a penalty during the past 12 games, the longest penalty-free stretch of his career. ... The game drew 18,672 to MCI Center, the Capitals` first sellout of the season.

(Courtesy Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2000.)

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Author: AP