Atkinson helps Flyers top Caps, snap six-game skid

Cam Atkinson had a goal and an assist and Claude Giroux also scored to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

Carter Hart made 27 saves for the Flyers, who snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the third time in 22 games.

T.J. Oshie scored for the Capitals, who lost their second straight.

Giroux tied Hall of Famer Eric Lindros for eighth place on the

Flyers’ all-time scoring list with the 290th goal of his career just 11 seconds into the game to put Philadelphia up early. Atkinson outraced Martin Fehervary to the puck in the Philadelphia zone, then fed Giroux for a wrist shot from the slot that beat Ilya Samsonov on the blocker side for his 17th of the season.

The goal was tied for the third-fastest in a regular-season game in club history, equaling Bobby Clarke’s 11-second tally to open a contest on Jan. 27, 1983. Tim Kerr holds the Flyers record, scoring in eight seconds on March 7, 1989.

Philadelphia increased its advantage to 2-0 with 1:22 left in the period when Atkinson netted his team-leading 18th of the season with a stellar individual effort from the side of the net to corral Scott Laughton’s pass with his skates, find his stick and then shoot off Samsonov and high into the net.

Oshie pulled the Capitals within a goal with 13:07 left in the second on a power play. Oshie drew an interference penalty from Isaac Ratcliffe and then quickly made the Flyers pay on the manadvantage, scoring on a one-timer from the slot for his sixth of the season and first since Jan. 10.

Both goalies made fantastic saves in the period. Samsonov robbed Travis Konecny with

14:05 left with a sensational glove save, and Hart denied Joe Snively’s backhander try from close range with 10:51 to play.

Penguins 1, Rangers 0: Tristan Jarry turned aside 27 shots to outduel Igor Shesterkin, Evgeni Malkin scored his eighth goal of the season and host Pittsburgh edged the Rangers on Saturday.

Jarry bounced back from a rough performance in a loss to New Jersey by picking up his 11th career shutout and fourth this season.

Malkin provided the difference with a powerplay goal 5:09 into the third as the Penguins ended a three-game losing streak to slip past the Rangers into second place in the Metropolitan Division.