PENALTIES COST CAPITALS AS FLYERS WIN

The Flyers defeated the Capitals in their home opener -- but it took an extra time goal for them to get the job done.

A good night for the Flyers -- Mike Richards was the first Flyer to score a hat trick in 42 home openers, and teammate Matt Carle tied an NHL record for defensemen by garnering four assists in a single period. And this also proved a time for celebration for Danny Briere who celebrated turning 32 years old with the overtime goal. He scored on a rebound with just over a minute left in overtime play, giving the Flyers 3-0.

Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin each scored two goals -- and another was scored by Brendan Morrison which had given the Capitals a 5-4 lead with 10:28 remaining in the third period.

Flyers goalie Ray Emery stopped a shot by Matt Bradley, but the rebound flew off Morrison's skate and into the net. After a video review, the ruling was that Morrison had not intentionally kicked the puck in -- so the goal stood.

Then with a man advantage, winger Scott Hartnell poked a rebound past goalie Jose Theodore with 4:15 remaining in the third period, evening the score at 5.

Theodore stopped an original shot by Briere, but was sprawled and unable to prevent the rebound.

"Tonight we were our worst enemy," Morrison explained to The Washington Post. "We came back and took the lead in the third, and that's a game we should have seal down and win. Tonight it was our penalties. We just couldn't stay out of the box. We have to learn this lesson quickly if we want to be a good team, not a great team." Sphere: Related Content