Before Johansson answered, defenseman Taylor Chorney came from behind and joked with Trotz that Beagle had just told reporters his first power-play goal had only come because this had been his first power-play shift. This alleged exaggeration, Trotz decided, could not stand.

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“He played in Ottawa,” the coach insisted.

There is no debating Beagle appeared on the power play in Philadelphia on Monday, an unexpected reward at the end of an ugly meltdown by the Flyers and their fans. Beagle was screening goalie Steve Mason late in the third period as part of the wave of power play time Washington received as a result of the Flyers’ six penalties, including three misconducts, over the final eight minutes of regulation.

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Defenseman Nate Schmidt fed Beagle in front of the net for the Capitals’ playoff record fifth power-play goal of the game with less than two minutes to go. Beagle knew right then it was his first career power play goal “because I don’t really play on the power play,” he said. “It’s pretty cool. I got a little power play experience and I got to score.”

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The 30-year-old forward now has as many goals (2) in this Eastern Conference quarterfinals series as the entire Flyers’ roster. He also scored the insurance goal that helped the Capitals secure a 2-0 win over Philadelphia in Game 1. Beagle had just three goals in 37 previous postseason appearances before this year.

In prior years, Beagle’s postseason production didn’t always match his actual contributions on the ice as a penalty killer and a grinding defensive option. But the Capitals’ depth became a strength this year, and Trotz noted Tuesday he has been able to spread out ice time relatively evenly among his four forward lines in five-on-five situations during the first three games of the series. Washington is also 8 for 17 on the power play through three games, including an unlikely contribution from one of its best penalty killers to cap a 5 for 9 performance in Game 3.

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“Every year you just grow up and you get more mature and you grow your game and things are just clicking for the team this year,” Beagle said. “I’m trying to take that over into the playoffs, so when you bring in guys like Richie, Williams, Osh, last year with Orpie and Nisky, it just grows your team and you become stronger. And then the guys here, we’re growing every year, so it’s kind of coming together all at once.”