Capitals return to Stanley Cup playoffs by beating Flyers

Two points, whether earned in regulation, overtime or a shootout, were all the Capitals needed to secure the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia needed to win in regulation — and get help from the Detroit Red Wings in Montreal — to stay alive.

The Capitals got what they needed. Washington emerged victorious, 2-1, thanks to an empty-net goal by T.J. Oshie with three minutes left. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who started for the second time in as many nights and for the third time in four days, made 27 saves to lift Washington back into the postseason. Samuel Ersson stopped 16 shots for the Flyers.

After missing out last season, the Capitals (40-31-11, 91 points) will return to the playoffs and face the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the first round. Detroit (41-32-9, 91 points) scored with five seconds left in regulation and went on to beat Montreal, 5-4, in a shootout, but the Capitals got the nod on the regulation wins tiebreaker (32 to 27).

“I don’t think I actually conceptualized this moment of us being and reaching our goal to get back into the Stanley Cup playoffs. When it happens, you’re a little bit taken aback,” Coach Spencer Carbery said. “Just proud — really, really proud of the group. Today was, once again, emblematic of what this group has done all year long. On a back-to-back, you could tell we were completely out of gas. We were fighting for every shift, just to take strides, just to make sure pucks got out.

“We had a good conversation between the second and third about what we were going to need to do, what was going to be required in that third period. I thought the guys dug in and did an excellent job in that third period and found a way. We found a way to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs.”

Before the game, Carbery implored his team to start on the front foot and play without fear, and Washington did as he asked in the opening minutes. Oshie rang a wrist shot off the post just 15 seconds in, and the Capitals looked to be in control.

Fittingly for the way this season has gone, Game 82 wasn’t without its quirks. Midway through the first period, a shot from Philadelphia’s Joel Farabee…