Brodzinski Scores Twice as Capitals Pull Away From Flyers for 5-2 Preseason Win
The Washington Capitals picked up their first victory of the 2026 preseason Monday night, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-2, at GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Jonny Brodzinski scored twice in the third period, Dylan Strome recorded a goal and an assist, and defenseman Ryan Chesley collected three assists as Washington pulled away after the teams entered the latter stages of the second period tied.
Aliaksei Protas and Ryan Leonard also scored for Washington, while the Capitals received another encouraging performance from several players competing for roster positions. Charlie Lindgren and Clay Stevenson split the game in goal, with Stevenson stopping all six shots he faced after replacing Lindgren midway through the second period. Washington improved to 1-0-1 in the preseason after opening its exhibition schedule with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins one night earlier.
The game also brought the Capitals back to a familiar building. GIANT Center is home to the Hershey Bears, Washington’s longtime American Hockey League affiliate, and seven Capitals who dressed Monday have previously spent time with Hershey. Head coach Spencer Carbery also coached the Bears for three seasons from 2018 through 2021 before eventually taking over behind Washington’s bench.
Flyers Strike First
Philadelphia opened the scoring only 2:42 into the first period after Washington gave the Flyers an early power-play opportunity. Cole Knuble worked the puck to Jack Studnicka, who moved into shooting position and beat Lindgren to give Philadelphia a 1-0 advantage. Jett Luchanko received the secondary assist.
The Capitals eventually received their own opportunity on the man advantage. Oliver Bonk went to the penalty box for slashing at 4:11, although Philadelphia successfully killed the initial Washington power play. The physicality increased several minutes later when Garrett Wilson and Dylan McIlrath dropped the gloves at 8:40, and Wilson received an additional minor penalty.
Simon Benoit then took a delay-of-game penalty, creating an extended five-on-three opportunity for Washington. Philadelphia goaltender Joseph Woll initially made an excellent pad save, but the Capitals maintained possession and eventually broke through.
Strome put the initial shot toward the net, and Protas knocked the rebound home at the right post at 9:35. Washington’s first power-play goal of the preseason tied the game at one.
Leonard Puts Washington Ahead
The game remained tied until the closing minute of the first period, when Leonard provided Washington with its first lead. The young forward moved into scoring position and snapped a shot past Woll at 19:18, giving the Capitals a 2-1 advantage heading into the first intermission. Chesley and Justin Holl earned the assists.
Leonard’s goal was another encouraging early-preseason development for Washington after the organization made a major long-term commitment to the forward earlier this month. Leonard signed an eight-year, $84 million contract with the Capitals on Sept. 15, carrying an average annual value of $10.5 million.
Washington generated 11 shots during the opening period compared with Philadelphia’s seven. More importantly, the Capitals recovered quickly after surrendering the early power-play goal and went into the intermission controlling the scoreboard.
Philadelphia Answers in the Second
The Flyers did not go away. Knuble, who assisted on Philadelphia’s opening goal, scored his first of the preseason at 8:06 of the second period to tie the game at 2-2. Knuble got his stick on the puck near the net and beat Lindgren, giving him a goal and an assist in Philadelphia’s preseason opener.
Philadelphia generated significantly more offensive pressure during the second period, putting 11 shots on goal. Lindgren finished his portion of the game having surrendered two goals before Stevenson took over.
The second period also included one of the game’s most significant physical sequences. Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald delivered a hard hit on Leonard along the boards. Andrew Cristall responded by going after McDonald and received a five-minute major and game misconduct for a high cross-check.
That left Washington facing a lengthy Philadelphia power play at a point when the game remained tied. Instead of allowing the Flyers to regain the lead, the Capitals’ penalty killers survived the major. Philadelphia officially finished 1-for-3 on the power play, and its inability to capitalize on the extended advantage became an important turning point.
Strome Restores the Lead
Washington regained control late in the second period. The Capitals caught Philadelphia during a line change, creating an opportunity in transition. Strome initially appeared capable of passing to Jordan Kyrou but instead kept the puck and fired his shot past Woll at 18:17.
The goal gave Washington a 3-2 advantage heading into the second intermission. Kyrou and Chesley earned the assists, giving Chesley his second helper of the night.
Strome’s two-point performance was particularly encouraging because Washington will rely heavily on him to remain one of the club’s primary offensive producers. His involvement in the Protas power-play goal and his ability to finish the second-period opportunity demonstrated two different ways he can impact Washington’s offense.
Philadelphia finished the second period with an 11-8 advantage in shots, but Washington emerged with the only statistic that mattered most — a one-goal lead.
Brodzinski Takes Over
The third period belonged to Brodzinski.
Philadelphia replaced Woll with Carson Bjarnason to begin the final 20 minutes. It took Brodzinski less than two minutes to welcome the new goaltender to the game. Brodzinski fired the period’s first Washington shot off the crossbar and post before the puck went into the net at 1:57, extending the Capitals’ advantage to 4-2.
Ethen Frank and Chesley received the assists. The helper completed a three-assist performance for Chesley, who continued making his case for consideration among Washington’s defensive depth options.
Brodzinski was not finished.
Philadelphia went to another power play at 7:55, giving the Flyers an opportunity to cut into Washington’s two-goal lead. Instead, the Capitals turned Philadelphia’s advantage against it.
Brodzinski struck again at 9:45, scoring shorthanded to make it 5-2. The goal was his second of the night and third through Washington’s first two preseason games after he also scored against Boston on Sunday.
The shorthanded goal essentially put the game away. Philadelphia generated only two shots during the third period while Washington produced eight, and the Flyers never seriously threatened to erase the three-goal deficit.
Brodzinski Making a Strong Roster Case
Few Capitals have helped themselves more through the opening two preseason games than Brodzinski. Washington signed him to a one-year, $850,000 contract as a free agent July 1, and he entered camp attempting to earn a role within a deep forward group.
Three goals in two preseason games will certainly attract attention.
Brodzinski’s value goes beyond the scoring numbers. He can play multiple forward positions and contribute on the penalty kill, and Monday’s second goal demonstrated his ability to create offense while shorthanded. Those traits can become particularly valuable when coaches make decisions concerning the final few roster positions.
Washington has considerable competition among its depth forwards, making every preseason opportunity important. Brodzinski has responded by scoring in consecutive games and producing the type of versatile performance that can strengthen his case.
Chesley Quietly Produces a Big Night
Brodzinski’s two goals will understandably receive considerable attention, but Chesley’s performance deserves recognition as well. The defenseman assisted on Leonard’s first-period goal, Strome’s second-period goal and Brodzinski’s first goal of the third.
Three assists from a young defenseman during a preseason game are significant, especially with Washington evaluating its organizational depth. Chesley’s mobility and puck movement gave the Capitals another element from the blue line, and he repeatedly became involved in successful offensive sequences without needing to force the issue.
His first assist helped Leonard give Washington its initial lead. His second contributed to the goal that broke the 2-2 tie, and his third helped Washington establish the two-goal cushion early in the third.
Preseason statistics must always be viewed within context, but Chesley did exactly what a young player attempting to impress an NHL coaching staff needs to do: make himself noticeable for positive reasons.
Special Teams Decide the Game
Special teams were one of the clearest differences Monday night. Both clubs officially finished 1-for-3 on the power play, but that does not completely describe Washington’s advantage.
Philadelphia scored its first goal with the man advantage, but Washington answered with Protas’ power-play goal during the first period. The Capitals later killed Cristall’s five-minute major in the second period when the score was tied, preventing the Flyers from turning the game in their favor.
Then Brodzinski scored shorthanded during Philadelphia’s third-period power play.
That sequence changed the complexion of the game. Washington not only survived its most difficult penalty kill of the night but ultimately scored while playing a man down later in the game. Philadelphia’s special teams therefore went from creating the opening goal to becoming part of the reason the Flyers could not mount a comeback.
Goaltending Holds Up
Lindgren started for Washington and allowed Philadelphia’s two goals before Stevenson replaced him midway through the second period. The Flyers’ offense never solved Stevenson, who stopped all six shots he faced.
Woll played the first two periods for Philadelphia and stopped 16 of 19 shots according to the NHL’s roundup. Bjarnason replaced him for the third and stopped seven shots while surrendering Brodzinski’s two goals.
The Capitals became increasingly effective defensively as the night progressed. Philadelphia put 11 shots on goal during the second period but generated only two in the third as Washington protected and expanded its lead.
A Successful Return to Hershey
The setting made Monday’s game more meaningful than an ordinary preseason contest for several members of the Capitals organization. Washington’s relationship with Hershey has produced numerous players for the NHL roster, and several Capitals who dressed Monday previously helped the Bears win Calder Cup championships.
Frank, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Protas, McIlrath, Stevenson and Bogdan Trineyev have all won championships with Hershey, while Ilya Protas played for the Bears last season. Carbery also has deep connections to the organization after compiling a 104-50-9-8 record during his three seasons as Hershey’s head coach.
Washington has made playing preseason games in Hershey something of a tradition. This marked the second consecutive season and fourth year overall in which the Capitals played an exhibition game at GIANT Center. Washington also defeated Philadelphia there last preseason, winning 5-1.
This time, the Capitals gave the Hershey crowd another five-goal performance.
Capitals Improve to 1-0-1
Washington’s first two preseason games have now provided the coaching staff with plenty of material to evaluate. The Capitals lost Sunday’s opener to Boston, 3-2, in a shootout but received goals from Brodzinski and Miroshnichenko. One night later, Brodzinski remained hot while several established offensive players joined him on the scoresheet.
The result itself is secondary during the preseason, but Washington’s progression was encouraging. The Capitals answered after falling behind early, survived a difficult five-minute penalty kill, regained the lead late in the second period and then controlled the third.
Leonard and Strome producing offense was important. Protas contributing on the power play was another positive development. Brodzinski strengthening his roster case and Chesley collecting three assists gave the coaching staff additional performances to evaluate.
Washington ultimately received contributions from several different parts of its lineup, which is exactly what teams want to see during exhibition games.
MSB Take
The final score matters less than the individual performances during preseason hockey, and Washington had several encouraging ones Monday night. Brodzinski has been impossible to ignore through two games. Three goals in two preseason appearances, including a shorthanded goal against Philadelphia, are exactly the kind of results a player competing for an NHL roster position wants to produce.
Chesley’s performance may have been just as important. Three assists from the young defenseman showed his ability to move the puck and become involved offensively, and he consistently appeared in Washington’s most productive sequences. Leonard scoring and Strome producing two points were also welcome signs from players expected to carry significant offensive responsibilities once the regular season begins.
Washington’s penalty kill deserves credit as well. Killing Cristall’s five-minute major while the game was tied prevented Philadelphia from seizing control, and Brodzinski’s shorthanded goal later turned another Flyers power play into a Washington advantage. Those are meaningful situational repetitions even in an exhibition game.
There are still roster decisions to make and plenty of preseason hockey remaining, but Monday gave the Capitals coaching staff several positive developments to consider. Washington left Hershey with a 5-2 victory, Brodzinski continued strengthening his roster case, Chesley produced a three-assist night and the Capitals received goals from Leonard, Strome and Protas. For a preseason game focused primarily on evaluation and preparation, Washington accomplished plenty.
