Flyers rally after slow start, but drop sixth straight game with loss at Washington Capitals

WASHINGTON — Whether or not you’re a fan of roller coasters, hopefully you were strapped in for this one.

The final result was a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals and a sixth straight loss for the Flyers. But wrapped up in 60 minutes of action were many twists and turns, and highs and lows that would make even the biggest adrenaline junkie dizzy.

Among the lows were a 4-0 hole, two empty-netters, with the first coming on a miscommunication in front of the Flyers bench when it was a one-goal game, and just three shots on goal for the Orange and Black in the first period.

» READ MORE: The Flyers are struggling mightily at five-on-five. A lack of chemistry and line continuity is part of the problem.

But like an old roller coaster that you’re not sure will still make it, the Flyers built up their momentum to a high point. They battled back with a pair of power-play goals, found their jump late in the second period, and even scored a much-needed goal at five-on-five.

The Flyers played listless for most of the first 25 minutes of the game, and it showed on the scoreboard. But during the television timeout after Connor McMichael gave the Capitals a 3-0 lead, defenseman Nick Seeler and coach John Tortorella were spotted arguing on the bench. It was about a play on the goal.

And it showed there was still a fire in this team.

Although they would give up another goal to McMichael, they started to pick up the pace and Travis Konecny got the Flyers on the board with a power-play goal from the bottom of the right faceoff circle. Not long after Owen Tippett curled above the left face-off circle and scored by just putting the puck on the net.

» READ MORE: Sielski: Yes, the Flyers are rebuilding. But John Tortorella’s team has to be more competitive than this.

And Matvei Michkov trimmed Washington’s lead to 4-3 during a four-on-three when he walked the line and fired the puck from above the circle and through a screen by Sean Couturier.

Taylor Raddysh gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead 4 minutes, 50 seconds into the game with a nifty deflection from the slot. It was the third shot on goal in the game — all by the Capitals. Nic Dowd, who scored a shorthanded goal on Tuesday, made it 2-0 early in the second.

Ivan Fedotov got the start in net and seemed to settle down last as the game wore on. He allowed four goals on 23 shots and stopped all eight shots in the third period as the Flyers tried to come back. … Bobby Brink was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. Tyson Foerster returned to the lineup. … Michkov and Tippett each finished with a goal and an assist. Jamie Drysdale had two assists. … Morgan Frost had nine shot attempts, including seven shots on goal. … Joel Farabee only played two shifts in the third period. His first entered the game six minutes in and his last stint ended with more than eight minutes to go. … Alex Ovechkin scored the second empty-netter for his 855th NHL goal. He needs 39 goals to tie Wayne Gretzky for the all-time mark.

The Flyers play another back-to-back this weekend when the Minnesota Wild (Saturday, 1 p.m., NBCSP) and Montreal Canadiens (Sunday, 7 p.m., NBCSP) visit the Wells Fargo Center.