Konecny, Zegras score in 2nd period, help rally Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Capitals

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras scored in the second period and the Philadelphia Flyers rallied to beat the Washington Capitals 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Washington has lost four of its last five games and is tied with Philadelphia at 71 points. Both teams are seven points behind Boston in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

The Flyers fell behind early when Washington’s Ryan Leonard took a pass from 40-year-old Alex Ovechkin and shot it through a screen past goalie Sam Ersson 9:21 into the game.

Through 64 games this season, it was the 44th time the Flyers had allowed the first goal. And, Philadelphia was 6-15-5 this season when trailing after the first period.

Konecny, celebrating his 29th birthday, took a pass from Travis Sanheim in the right circle and scored past Washington’s Logan Thompson at 4:23 of the second for a 1-all tie.

Owen Tippett then picked off a pass, stepped around Washington’s Tom Wilson and broke, 2-on-none, with Zegras. The two passed back and forth before Zegras lifted the puck in for a 2-1 lead.

Philadelphia added to its lead in the third period on a terrific play by Noah Cates. Tied up behind the Capitals’ net during a 4-on-4 situation, he one-handed a pass into the slot, where defenseman Jamie Drysdale shot it past Thompson for a 3-1 lead.

Tippett finished up the scoring with an empty-net goal with 1:03 left. Ersson stopped 21 shots for the Flyers.

Capitals: At the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Flyers: At the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

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

Washington Capitals' Rasmus Sandin tries to get the puck past Philadelphia Flyers' Travis Konecny during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Washington Capitals' Dylan Strome (17) and Philadelphia Flyers' Luke Glendening (41) collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Washington Capitals' Aliaksei Protas (21) tries to keep the puck from Philadelphia Flyers' Cam York (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Flyers' Trevor Zegras (46) scores past Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez left Wednesday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles with a hamstring injury after striking out to end the sixth inning.

The three-time All-Star spoke to a team athletic trainer before exiting the dugout.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson told reporters after his team's 5-3 loss that Rodríguez had a spasm in his hamstring.

Rodríguez was 1 for 3 with a double, giving him 125 doubles to go along with 125 homers and 125 stolen bases in his career.

He reached those totals in 665 major league games, making the 25-year-old Rodríguez the third-fastest player to do it.

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was the fastest at 591 games and former big leaguer Alfonso Soriano, a seven-time All-Star, pulled off the feat in 643 games, according to Sportradar.

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

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez follows through on a double against the Baltimore Orioles during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)