Game 4 Instant Replay: Flyers 2, Capitals 1

BOX SCORE

One down, three to go.

The Flyers will live to see another game of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series with the Capitals after finally solving Washington for a 2-1 win in Game 4 at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night (see 10 observations).

With the victory, the Flyers now trail the series, 3-1, and avoided being the first team eliminated from the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrew MacDonald provided the goals, Wayne Simmonds assisted both and Michal Neuvirth answered the bell in net to notch his first playoff win since April 23, 2011.

The Capitals trimmed a 2-0 deficit to one early in the third period but couldn't net the equalizer despite emptying their net late and firing 13 shots at Neuvirth during the final frame.

The Flyers improved to 3-6 in Game 4s after losing the first three games of a best-of-seven series and averted what would have been their seventh four-game sweep all-time.

The Flyers are 1-7 all-time when falling behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven playoff series. The only comeback came in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals when they overcame the Bruins in seven games.

The Capitals have blown 10 2-0 series leads in franchise history but never a 3-0 advantage.

Notable goals
Happy birthday, Gostisbehere.

The standout rookie turned 23 years old Wednesday and gave the Flyers their first power-play goal of the series with his first career postseason marker 5:51 into the game.

Gostisbehere sent a blast from the point, assisted by Claude Giroux and Simmonds - the first points of the series for both forwards.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Gostisbehere became the youngest Flyers defensemen to score a playoff goal since May 16, 1997, when Janne Niinimaa scored at 21 years old.

MacDonald gave the Flyers their first multi-goal game of the postseason when he beat Braden Holtby with a slap shot at 3:51 of the second period for his second career playoff tally.

T.J. Oshie took a rebound and made a nice move to beat Neuvirth top shelf 2:38 into the final stanza and bring the Capitals within one.

Goalie report
Neuvirth made his first postseason start since May 4, 2011, when he was with the Capitals. The 28-year-old was strong in just his second game action since March 17, stopping 31 shots.

The Capitals were all over the Flyers in the third period but Neuvirth withstood the pressure, converting 12 saves.

Holtby, who saved 91 of 93 shots he faced in Games 1-3, made 23 saves.

Power play
After going 0 for 13 in Games 1-3, the Flyers scored on their first man advantage in Game 4.

They finished 1 for 2 after entering three for their last 30, including the regular season.

The Capitals went their first game of the series without a power-play goal, finishing 0 for 2.

Penalty kill
The Flyers stayed out of the box until 5:29 left in the second period when Sam Gagner was whistled for interference.

The Flyers killed off both power plays faced.

The Capitals, who successfully killed 67 of its last 74 power plays, allowed their first man-advantage goal of the series.

Injury
Scott Laughton left the game on a stretcher during the first period after taking a nasty spill into the boards at 16:07. Skating full speed, Laughton was hit from the side by John Carlson and went sideways into the boards. He was taken to Jefferson Hospital for precautionary reasons (see story).

Scratches
For the Flyers:

Healthy: Forwards R.J. Umberger, Jordan Weal, Cole Bardreau, Chris Conner and Taylor Leier, defensemen Evgeny Medvedev, Mark Alt, Davis Drewiske, Robert Hagg and Samuel Morin, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz.

Injured: Forward Sean Couturier (upper body).

Suspended: Forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.

For the Capitals:

Healthy: Forwards Michael Latta and Stanislav Galiev, defenseman Mike Weber and goalie Dan Ellis.

Injured: Defenseman Brooks Orpik (upper body).

Next up
The series swings back to the nation's capital for Game 5 Friday (7 p.m./CSN) at the Verizon Center.

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