Meszaros overtime goal gives Flyers top spot in NHL

Philadelphia beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 to take sole possession of top spot in the NHL.

Kimmo Timonen of the Philadelphia Flyers, left, pushes Marcus Johansson of the Washington Capitals off the puck during their clash at the Wells Fargo Center.
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PHILADELPHIA // Andrej Meszaros scored in overtime to give the red-hot Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals and sole possession of top spot in the NHL.

The Flyers squandered a 2-0 lead by allowing third-period goals to Mike Knuble and Alex Ovechkin, but Meszaros delivered an unassisted tally at 1:07 into overtime to give Philadelphia their third straight win and seventh in eight games.

Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux netted goals in the first and second periods respectively and the Flyers (30-11-5) moved one point in front of the Vancouver Canucks, who are playing the Colorado Avalanche later today.

The Capitals (25-14-8), who entered the night one point ahead of Tampa Bay for the Southeast Division lead, have lost four of their last five games.

Eleswhere, Milan Lucic scored with 8:11 left and Tim Thomas made a season-high 43 saves to lead the Boston Bruins past the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2.

Chris Conner scored on Pittsburgh's first successful penalty shot in nearly four years to help the Penguins to a 4-1 win over the injury-thinned Detroit Red Wings.

In Tampa Bay, Ryan Malone scored the only goal of a shootout in the fourth round to lift the Lightning over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Steven Stamkos had two goals during regulation for Southeast Division leading Tampa Bay. RJ Umberger and Derick Brassard scored for the Blue Jackets.

Jason Pominville scored a power-play goal a minute into overtime to give Buffalo victory over injury-depleted Montreal.

Tyler Ennis had a goal and assist for Buffalo, which snapped a four-game losing streak against the Canadiens, dating to last season. David Desharnais scored for Montreal.

Bobby Ryan scored in the shoot-out to give Anaheim a 2-1 win over Ottawa. Ryan shot past Brian Elliott on Anaheim's second attempt after Mike Fisher hit the right post on Ottawa's second shot.

Jonas Hiller denied Erik Karlsson on Ottawa's final attempt to seal the win. Corey Perry gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead with a highlight-reel goal for his 24th of the season and 50th point, both team highs.

Fisher drew Ottawa even late in the second.