Oshie scores game-winner into empty net as Capitals make playoffs by beating Flyers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — T.J. Oshie shot the puck into an empty net and, in the process, scored one of the more improbable game-winning goals in recent NHL history and sent the Washington Capitals to the playoffs.

Oshie's empty-net goal with 3 minutes left helped the exhausted Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Tuesday night under absurd circumstances. The score was tied when Philadelphia coach John Tortorella pulled his goaltender for an extra attacker because his team needed to win in regulation to keep its hopes alive.

What Tortorella didn't know was that Detroit scoring with 3.3 seconds remaining to force to overtime at Montreal perhaps a minute earlier actually eliminated the Flyers.

“We’ll take it,” Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin said. "Thanks, Philly.”

Tortorella found out just after Oshie's empty-netter about the Red Wings result. By then, it was too late, and the result also eliminated Detroit and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Washington will face the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the first round beginning this weekend, returning to the playoffs after a one-year absence ended their eight-year streak.

“It means a lot," said Oshie, one of a handful of players remaining from the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup team, along with Ovechkin, John Carlson and Tom Wilson. "Once you win one time, the regular season just doesn’t have as much meaning as the playoff games, so to get back there is going to be super special and definitely won’t take it for granted. The boys will be ready to rock.”

A recent six-game losing streak looked to have tanked the Caps' chances, but behind more strong play from goalie Charlie Lindgren, they kept themselves in the race. Lindgren looked shaky at times against the Flyers, giving up some big rebounds, but he made the saves, 27 total, when they mattered in his second start in as many days and 48th of the season — by far the most he has played in his NHL career.

“He’s been arguably our MVP,” coach Spencer Carbery said. “He’s been fantastic all year. He earned the opportunity to play this in back to back, and he delivered once again.”

Ovechkin provided the earlier offense, scoring his 31st goal of the season and 853rd of his career on a deflection of Dylan McIlrath's shot late in the first to move 42 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky's record. The only goal Lindgren allowed was a similar redirection by veteran defenseman Erik Johnson, a trade deadline acquisition by Philadelphia not known for his scoring prowess.

Before being pulled, Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson stopped 16 of the 17 shots he faced.

“That was one of the most encouraging things of it all, is the last three games that Ers can go home in the summer with that,” Tortorella said. “It’s ridiculous how much we played him. But he gets to go home feeling he rebounded and he found himself again."

The Capitals found themselves over and over again this season, going from low preseason expectations to somehow in contention to trade deadline sellers to playoff front-runners. It's only fitting they took the final step to the playoffs in unusual fashion, and the Rangers are up next.

“Significant challenge,” Carbery said. “Best team in the NHL, so we know we have our hands full.”

UP NEXT

Flyers: Can point to their own seven-game skid late in the season as the reason they didn't make the playoffs ahead of schedule for their rebuild.

Capitals: Play Game 1 against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden either Saturday or Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Philadelphia Flyers' Travis Konecny, right, cannot get the puck past Washington Capitals' Charlie Lindgren during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Capitals' T.J. Oshie, right, tries to get past Philadelphia Flyers' Cam York during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson, left, and Philadelphia Flyers' Scott Laughton collide during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Flyers' Travis Konecny, right, tries to get around Washington Capitals' Dylan McIlrath, left, and Aliaksei Protas during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Capitals' Alexander Alexeyev, left, tries to keep the puck away from Philadelphia Flyers' Bobby Brink during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin reacts after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Capitals' Charlie Lindgren (79) celebrates with Martin Fehervary (42) and John Carlson (74) after the Capitals won an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Capitals' T.J. Oshie, left, celebrates after scoring a goal during the third second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after the Capitals won an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Capitals' T.J. Oshie, right, celebrates after scoring a goal against Philadelphia Flyers' Jamie Drysdale during the third second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

CHICAGO (AP) — Max Kepler had a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Monday night for their eighth straight win.

Byron Buxton doubled to lead off the ninth against John Brebbia (0-1). Kepler, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth, then drove him in with a line-drive single to right.

“You gotta be able to win tight games,” Buxton said. “There’s going to be some days where you’re winning blowouts, but to be able to battle like we did today against tough pitching and put some at-bats together to win today is big.”

Caleb Thielbar pitched out of a first-and-third jam in the ninth, striking out Korey Lee to end the game after walking Tommy Pham and giving up a two-out single to Robbie Grossman.

Joe Ryan threw six solid innings for the Twins. Coming off a win against the White Sox last week at Target Field, he gave up two runs and six hits.

“He ended up giving us a really nice outing,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “There are days when you’re pitching and you’re really sharp and everything’s crisp and you’re missing a bunch of bats. But there are other days kind of like today where a six-inning start, that’s a heck of an accomplishment when you’re battling at the beginning of the game.

Brock Stewart worked the seventh, Griffin Jax (2-2) dodged a first-and-second jam in the eighth when he struck out Eloy Jiménez to end that threat, and Thielbar finished up to earn his second save.

Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer in the second to tie the score before Minnesota beat Chicago for the 12th time in the last 13 games. The Twins also matched their best winning streak since also winning eight straight in June 2011.

“It’s baseball, you just gotta keep grinding,” Kepler said. “The season started on a cold front offensively, and you just gotta keep battling and have each other’s backs.”

Andrew Vaughn lined an RBI double and scored in a two-run first to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead, but they couldn’t hang on after winning a season-high three in a row.

Garrett Crochet pitched five innings for the White Sox, allowing two runs and five hits after dropping his previous three starts. The left-hander struck out seven and walked one.

“I felt like it took me a minute to get going,” Crochet said. “I felt like giving up the homer kind of flipped the switch for me. And then I felt like I was kind of on autopilot for the rest of the game.”

Brad Keller pitched around two walks in the sixth and retired the first two batters in the seventh before Christian Vázquez reached on a throwing error by third baseman Danny Mendick. Tim Hill then got Alex Kirilloff to ground out with a runner on second.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: SS Carlos Correa was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after he missed 16 games with a strained right rib cage muscle and went 0 for 4. He was hurt checking his swing during a strikeout on April 12. Minnesota optioned utility player Austin Martin to Triple-A St. Paul.

UP NEXT

RHP Michael Soroka (0-3, 6.83 ERA) will take the mound for the White Sox after lasting five innings, giving up four hits and striking out one against the Twins on Thursday. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 2.45) starts for Minnesota. He went five innings against Chicago last week, allowing seven hits and striking out six.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Minnesota Twins' Carlos Santana (30) celebrates after his two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox shortstop Paul DeJong, left, cannot catch Minnesota Twins' Christian Vázquez who steals second base during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, April 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vázquez, left, and closing pitcher Caleb Thielbar celebrate their team's 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Minnesota Twins left fielder Willi Castro, center, and his teammates celebrate their 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, right, slides into home past Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee, left, to score on a single by Max Kepler during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)