NHL

Capitals close out Flyers in 6 games with 1-0 victory

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Fans reacts after a goal against Philadelphia Flyers' Michal Neuvirth by Washington Capitals' Nicklas Backstrom during the second period of Game 6 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs, Sunday, April 24, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (The Associated Press)

Washington Capitals' Justin Williams, left, and Philadelphia Flyers' Michael Raffl battle for the puck during the first period of Game 6 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs, Sunday, April 24, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (The Associated Press)

Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson, right, checks Philadelphia Flyers' Pierre-Edouard Bellemare during the first period of Game 6 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs, Sunday, April 24, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (The Associated Press)

Nicklas Backstrom scored, Braden Holtby had 26 saves, and the Washington Captials beat the Philadelphia Flyers 1-0 on Sunday in Game 6 to win the series 4-2 and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Capitals will play the Pittsburgh Penguins, setting up a marquee matchup of Alex Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby.

Ovechkin had an assist on Backstrom's second-period goal that was easily enough against the punchless Flyers.

Riding the momentum of Michal Neuvirth in net, the Flyers won two straight to force an unlikely trip home. Neuvirth was sensational again, but the Flyers were ultimately doomed by a power play that could not cash in against Holtby. The Flyers wasted nearly 2 minutes of a 5-on-3 power play in the second period that made a critical difference.