Capitals 5, Flyers 4 (SO): Nicklas Backstrom scored the decisive goal in the third round of the shootout as host Washington erased a three-goal third-period deficit to hand Philadelphia a deflating loss for the second time this season.

After captain Alex Ovechkin forged a 4-4 tie with 48 seconds remaining in the third period, the Capitals advanced to their third shootout in as many games. Eric Fehr's wrist shot trickled past Steve Mason (29 saves) in the first round before Flyers captain Claude Giroux answered in the second. Backstrom slowed down before snapping a shot inside the right post in the third and Philipp Grubauer (24 saves) made it stand up by getting just enough of Sean Couturier's bid with his right pad.

Ovechkin finished with two goals to raise his league-leading total to 28 while defensemen Mike Green and Dmitry Orlov also tallied for the Capitals, who improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight contests.

Jakub Voracek scored in his 400th career game and defenseman Mark Streit tallied to record his 300th career point for the Flyers, who were blasted 7-0 by Washington on Nov. 1 in a contest remembered less for artistic goals and more for line brawls and a goalie fight. Giroux recorded a goal and set up another, Couturier also scored and rookie Michael Raffl notched three assists.

After Voracek deflected Raffl's shot past Grubauer at 3:32 of the third period to give Philadelphia a 4-1 lead, Green and Orlov both scored on point shots to trim the deficit to one.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Philadelphia RW Wayne Simmonds also played in his 400th career game. ... Couturier scored 2:18 into the third period, when his sharp-angle shot from below the end line in the left corner caromed off Grubauer and into the net. ... Capitals C Mikhail Grabovski sat out the contest with flu-like symptoms. ... The Metropolitan Division rivals will reconvene in Philadelphia on Tuesday.