Caps wear down Flyers 5-2 in Hershey — Bruins at Cap One Friday

Preseason — Washington 5, Philadelphia 2

The Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 on Monday, Sep. 21 at Giant Center in Hershey (Capitals.com).

It was Game 2 of a four-game exhibition slate after a 3-2 shootout loss at Boston the night before. Hershey answered with depth scoring and a kill that mattered: Andrew Cristall took a five-minute major and game misconduct for cross-checking in the second; the Caps killed the full five minutes (club story). Supplemental discipline notes have circulated separately — Sport DMV is not inventing suspension timelines beyond the on-ice call.

Aliaksei Protas tipped a Dylan Strome shot on a 5-on-3 to tie it. Ryan Leonard made it 2-1 late in the first. Strome scored late in the second after a long PK. Jonny Brodzinski stacked a third-period one-timer and a shorthanded goal — his third goal in two preseason games. Ryan Chesley had three assists.

Locked scoring (club game story)

• Aliaksei Protas — 5-on-3, tipped a Dylan Strome shot (1-1)
• Ryan Leonard — late first, glove side on Joseph Woll (2-1)
• Dylan Strome — late second after a long PK, glove side (3-2)
• Jonny Brodzinski — third-period one-timer (4-2) and a shorthanded goal (5-2); third goal in two preseason games
• Ryan Chesley — three assists

Camp note (Tuesday)

Capitals PR / RMNB: first round of cuts trimmed camp from 53 to 44. Nine players headed toward Hershey; Ludwig Persson was placed on waivers for the purpose of a loan.

Next

• Friday, Sep. 25 — Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena, 7:00 p.m. (arena listing)
• Saturday — at Philadelphia (club / RMNB)

Alex Ovechkin is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and did not play the Boston opener; coach Spencer Carbery said he would have a clearer update after this week’s practices on whether Ovechkin plays remaining preseason games (NHL.com status report). No invented return date here.

Opening night roster deadline: 5 p.m. ET Sep. 28. Regular season opener: Oct. 2 at Carolina.

Sport DMV read

Hershey was a depth statement — Brodzinski heating up, Leonard scoring, the PK surviving a five-minute mess. Friday’s lone Cap One exhibition is the dress rehearsal locals will actually see; watch Ovechkin’s practice updates and who survives the next cut wave before the Sep. 28 roster deadline.

The Capitals page is the hub.

*Wednesday desk add-on, Sep. 23, 2026. Analysis refresh. Monday lines from Capitals.com; cuts from Capitals PR / RMNB; Ovechkin note from NHL.com status report; Friday tip from Capital One Arena.*