PHILADELPHIA _ The Flyers used a late rally Tuesday night to win a game at the Wells Fargo Center, but they took a step backward.
Jordan Weal knocked in a late goal in regulation and was the only player to score in the shootout as the Flyers defeated the Ottawa Senators, 3-2, for their third victory in the last four games.
The satisfaction, however, was tempered by Boston's 4-1 victory over Nashville. The Flyers remained six points behind the Bruins, who began the night in the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot.
Steve Mason stopped Tom Pyatt to end the shootout and give the Flyers a two-game winning streak for the first time since Feb. 28 and March 2.
Weal tied the game at 2 with 5 minutes, 59 seconds left, taking advantage of goalie Craig Anderson's giveaway to score his fifth goal in the last 11 games.
Anderson went behind the net and his clearing pass was intercepted by Weal, who put the puck into an empty cage.
The Senators challenged that Wayne Simmonds interfered with Anderson as he tried to scramble back to the net. After a review, the goal stood.
Just 1 { minutes earlier, Kyle Turris scored on a one-timer from the high slot with 7:25 left, giving Ottawa a 2-1 lead.
It was the 26th goal for Turris, who was set up nicely by defenseman Cody Ceci before firing a shot past a screened Mason.
Just before the goal, Valtteri Filppula's line applied great pressure down the other end, but the Flyers couldn't finish their scoring chances.
The Flyers had the better chances in the overtime, but were unable to beat Anderson. They finished with a 35-28 shots edge in the game.
The Flyers have just six games left.
"We're in a position where we know what we have to do, and we can't focus on what other teams are doing," Mason said before the game. "Go out there and play the game of hockey and have fun and put forth a good effort. The guys still have to understand we're still in this and we have to play with a lot of pride and a lot of effort and see what happens."
Anderson was prone on the ice but somehow stopped Travis Konecny from the doorstep with 16:21 remaining in the third. Anderson made the stop with his left leg, keeping the game tied at 1.
The Flyers' power play was in a 3-for-46 funk before Brayden Schenn scored while the Flyers had a man advantage with 1:26 left in the first, knotting the score at 1.
Standing in the left circle, Schenn deflected a one-time point drive by Shayne Gostsibehere. It was his 16th power-play goal, second in the NHL.
"It was a good power play and we were bearing down and we're focused on getting more pucks to the net," Gostisbehere said.
Gostisbehere, who had offseason abdominal and hip surgery, has been getting off more shots recently, and seems to have regained the "jump" that made him such a dynamic player last season.
"I'm just bearing down," he said. "That's the biggest thing for me. I just have to stop thinking about it and let it fly."
Ottawa had taken a 1-0 lead about two minutes earlier as defenseman Erik Karlsson converted on a five-on-three power play. Karlsson fired a point drive past a screened Mason.
In the first two periods, Mason stopped 17 of 18 shots, while Anderson turned aside 19 of 20.
With Anderson out of position and 2:24 left in the second, Sean Couturier took a slick feed from Schenn and appeared to have a lot of net, but his shot went wide.
Anderson is believed to be the favorite to win the Bill Masterton Trophy, which is given to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Anderson's wife, Nicholle, was diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer in October. The goalie took a leave of absence for two months to be with his wife while she underwent treatment, and he has had an outstanding season.
But his blunder late in the game gave the Flyers a chance.
