Flyers top Senators in OT, keep playoff hopes alive

Rookie ties game in third and then wins it in shootout as Flyers beat Senators »

PHILADELPHIA >> Jordan Weal put his hustle and skill on display.

Weal scored the only shootout goal after tying the game late in the third period on an embarrassing mistake by the Ottawa Senators, sending the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.

Brayden Schenn also scored for the Flyers, a long shot to make the playoffs with six games remaining. Philadelphia began the day six points out of a postseason spot but needing to jump four teams.

The Senators, making their second stop on a five-game road trip, are four points behind first-place Montreal in the Atlantic Division and four points in front of Toronto.

Kyle Turris had a goal and an assist, and Erik Karlsson also scored for Ottawa.

Weal opened the shootout by beating Craig Anderson between his legs.

“We have some video on the bench that shows us what the goalie likes to do,” Weal said. “You don’t complicate it too much. You just see if the goalie likes to stay out, backs in, does anything crazy. After that, you just have to stick to your move and do it to the best of your ability.”

Weal quickly has gained the confidence of Flyers coach Dave Hakstol since being called up from Lehigh Valley of the AHL on Jan. 25.

“He’s been a good two-way player,” Hakstol said. “He’s scored some big goals for us. He’s a reliable player that generates and creates offensively.”

Flyers goalie Steve Mason clinched the win when he stopped Tom Pyatt on Ottawa’s final attempt. Turris and Bobby Ryan also failed to beat Mason in the tiebreaker.

Weal’s goal in regulation was all about hard work — and some help from Anderson.

Weal tied it with 5:59 left in the third period after Anderson, who had been stellar to that point, misfired a pass from behind the net right onto the stick of Weal.

He sent it into the empty net for his sixth of the season and fifth in the last 11 games.

Senators coach Guy Boucher challenged the play, arguing that Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds interfered with Anderson as he tried to get back to the crease, but officials let the goal stand.

MATT SLOCUM — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Flyers’ Jordan Weal, left, scores against Ottawa’s Craig Anderson during the shootout Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers won, 3-2.

MATT SLOCUM — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Flyers Steve Mason, center, and Jake Voracek, right, celebrate as Ottawa’s Tom Pyatt, left, skates past after Tuesday’s shootout.