Flyers' third straight win is a season high

OTTAWA, Ontario - They got goals from two defensemen - including the first of Evgeny Medvedev's young NHL career - for the second time this season.

They got Wayne Simmonds' third goal in the last two games, Sean Couturier's first multiple-point performance of the season, and superb goaltending from Steve Mason, especially in the third period.

Put it all together and the Flyers extended their winning streak to a season-high three games Tuesday, defeating Ottawa, 4-2, at the Canadian Tire Centre.

The win, iced on Couturier's empty-net goal, avenged a 4-0 loss in Ottawa 10 night earlier, and it lifted the Flyers' record to 10-10-5.

"It feels good. We're finally closing games," Couturier said after his three-point night. "We're believing more in the system and trusting each other more."

For one of the few times this season, the Flyers entered Tuesday with some momentum, thanks to consecutive weekend wins over a pair of gifted teams, Nashville and the New York Rangers.

Medvedev, making up for a glaring first-period error, scored his first NHL goal to put the Flyers ahead, 2-1, with 16 minutes, 46 seconds to go in the second period. The 33-year-old Russian deposited a wrist shot from the right circle just as a Senators penalty expired.

"I am very happy to finally score," said Medvedev, whose English keeps improving. He said he was "grateful" for his teammates who helped him score and aided the win.

About a minute after Medvedev's goal, the Flyers got careless and allowed a two-on-one that resulted in Mike Hoffman's tap in, knotting the score at 2-2.

The Flyers had struck first as defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere continued his impressive offensive run, scoring his fourth goal in nine games since being recalled from the AHL's Phantoms.

"I call him 'Gots To Be Here,' " smiling Flyers chairman Ed Snider said before the season.

The player known as Ghost took a pass from Claude Giroux and was given an inordinate amount of time as he skated from the right point and into the right circle, firing a shot that went over goalie Craig Anderson's left shoulder to the short side.

That gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead with 5:33 left in the opening period.

A little less than three minutes later, Ottawa tied the score, taking advantage of Medvedev's ill-advised, behind-the-net pass/clear that was intercepted by Cody Ceci, who set up Zack Smith's shot from the slot with 2:43 remaining in the first.

Ottawa thought it had snapped a 2-2 tie on a goal by Cherry Hill's Bobby Ryan with 4:27 left in the second. The goal didn't count, however, when replays verified the on-ice call - that Ryan deflected it into the net with a high stick.

Sixty-two seconds later, Simmonds gave the Flyers their third lead of the night. Going in on a three-on-two rush, Simmonds scored on his own rebound, giving the Flyers a 3-2 edge. Couturier set the play in motion, notching his second assist of the night.

"I shot it for a rebound, and luckily the puck came right back to my side," Simmonds said.

Entering Tuesday, the Flyers had climbed to within four points of a playoff spot.

"We have 10 games left before Christmas and we have to make sure we put ourselves in a good situation to make a playoff push," said Giroux, who moved to Ottawa when he was 14 and had many relatives and friends in attendance. "We really believe that as a team, we can do that, and it starts with two points tonight."

Ottawa lost forwards Milan Michalek and Mika Zibanejad to injuries during the game. Early in the third period, the latter appeared to take an elbow or forearm to the face from Radko Gudas, who may face disciplinary action from the league.

The Flyers scored more than three goals for just the second time this season. They had scored three or fewer in 18 straight games.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull