Flyers ride Neuvirth to new life against Caps The Capitals were eyeing a sweep, some days of rest, and a chance to heal if they could sweep the Flyers. Philly was looking to a new goalie and simple survival. As TSN senior hockey reporter Frank Seravalli writes, it was Philadelphia that came through with 60 minutes of desperation hockey.

Frank Seravalli TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Follow|Archive

PHILADELPHIA — The push was thunderous. You could practically hear Alex Ovechkin leading a Pamplona-like charge inside a pin-drop quiet Wells Fargo Center.

His Capitals had awoken, finally, in the third period. They smelled the opportunity at hand, and frantically tried to become the first team in franchise history to sweep a seven-game series.

Days of rest, a chance for Brooks Orpik and others to heal, awaited if the Presidents' Trophy winners became the first to punch their ticket to the second round.

And the Flyers could do little but watch as the fate of their season rested in the hands of Michal Neuvirth and an ever-so-slowly moving clock. Overtime felt like destiny as the Capitals swarmed.

“It’s not fun holding onto leads,” Flyers forward Ryan White said. “It’s too much praying.”

T.J. Oshie quickly evaporated the Flyers’ 2-0 lead, then Andre Burakovsky, Tom Wilson, Marcus Johansson and Mike Richards all had point-blank shots to stick the dagger in Philadelphia. A new “there it is” moment seemed to come every minute.

The Flyers didn’t even try to advance the puck. Their last shot from inside Washington’s zone came with 17 minutes left in the period. They were hanging on for dear life.

“We talked about it in the second intermission, trying not to sit back. But I think reality sets in,” Brayden Schenn said. “You talk about having your foot on the gas, but when they come with four guys on the rush and their ‘D’ are pinching, you spend a lot of time in your own end.”

Coach Dave Hakstol’s desperation goaltending swap paid dividends.

Neuvirth coolly pushed aside the Capitals - and their brooms - to give the Flyers a 2-1 win and at least two more days of life to their season.

“He stole one there for us at the end,” Wayne Simmonds said. “That’s what we needed.”

Philadelphia staved off elimination by equaling their goal production from their first three games of the series, timely contributions from Claude Giroux, Simmonds and Shayne Gostisbehere, and a rare penalty kill. Neuvirth was best when it mattered most, stopping 12 of 13 shots in the final frame.

He became the fifth replacement netminder so far in the playoffs to lead his team to a rebound win immediately following a loss by the series starter, joining Petr Mrazek, Frederik Andersen, Matt Murray and Antti Niemi.

Game 5 is on Friday night in Washington. The Capitals seemed only remotely interested during the first two periods before flipping the switch.

“We didn’t push enough,” Caps goaltender Braden Holtby said. “I mean, we knew we weren’t going to win them all … When you leave it up to one period, sometimes it doesn’t work out.”

Neuvirth might not have been able to save the Flyers’ season on Wednesday night without a random meeting in England, of all places, last summer.

Flyers forward Jakub Voracek was in line to see a match at Wimbledon last June when he ran into countryman Neuvirth at the ticket counter. It was late June, two or three days before NHL free agency opened.

Neuvirth was there to support his then-girlfriend Kristyna Pliskova, a Czech tennis star. Voracek was on vacation with his family.

“We got to talking,” Voracek said. “He told me the Flyers were interested in him. I told him about the locker room and the organization. After that, I think it was a no-brainer for him.”

Neuvirth signed a two-year, $3.25 million deal with the Flyers on July 1. In Philadelphia, he has found himself a Czech Republic haven, of sorts, with him, Voracek and Radko Gudas all living in the same building downtown. All three of them carpool to and from the Flyers’ rink.

Neuvirth and Voracek rose through the Czech ranks together, on the same Under 16-18 and World Junior teams.

“He is the same now,” Voracek said. “He’s calm all the time, easy going. Nothing really bothers him. You can tell in net, he’s real calm.”

Neuvirth, 28, temporarily unseated Steve Mason as Philadelphia’s starter for the early part of the season. He closed with a .924 save percentage in 32 appearances, tied for fourth in the NHL with Corey Crawford and Cory Schneider.

An untimely injury paved the way for a Mason hot streak to lead the Flyers to the postseason. Wednesday marked Neuvirth’s second game since March 16. Despite his impressive numbers, he was an afterthought until Mason faltered this week.

Washington tormented Mason with eight goals on 17 power plays. The Flyers didn’t take a penalty through 35 minutes to start Game 4.

“In Mason’s case, I think us as players in front of him, let him down,” Simmonds said. “We went to the box too many times and left him to the mercy of the Capitals.”

Voracek said Neuvirth understood his diminished role.

“You ride the hot goalie,” Voracek said. “That’s the way it is.”

The situation remains bleak, the Flyers readily admit, with White reiterating they are looking at another “one-game showdown.” They will attempt to ride Neuvirth for another two days of life.

“We live for another day,” Neuvirth said. “I mean, it’s just the playoffs. I love playing in the playoffs. I have good playoffs in the past. I believe in myself and I like it.”

Contact Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @frank_seravalli