WASHINGTON - Wayne Simmonds scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 Sunday despite losing starting goalie Steve Mason to an injury.

Jakub Voracek added an empty-netter for his 18th of the season, and Mark Streit also scored for the Flyers, who have won five of six.

Mason, who stopped all eight shots he faced, left the ice at 11:18 of the second period and had to be helped to the locker room. The team later announced he had a lower-body injury.

Ray Emery made five saves in relief.

Alex Ovechkin pulled into a tie for the league lead with his 33rd goal and Braden Holtby made 22 saves for the Capitals, who had won three straight.

Ovechkin has 17 goals in his last 19 games.

Washington was outshot 25-14 despite having six power plays to only one for the Flyers.

Simmonds made it 2-1 when he crossed the blue line, skated to his left and beat Holtby to the far side from the left circle for his 19th of the season.

The Flyers, starting a four-game road trip, took a 1-0 lead 50 seconds into the second period when Streit's shot from the point eluded Holtby.

At 11:18 of the period, Philadelphia's Matt Read was whistled for interference. With play stopped, Mason went to the bench.

Mason sustained a lower body injury Jan. 10 against Boston, and returned to action Jan. 27.

Emery entered and 40 seconds later faced a 5-on-3 power play after Michael Del Zotto's high sticking penalty.

The Flyers got one man back, but Evgeny Kuznetsov threaded a pass across the slot to Ovechkin who was able to take his time before sending a wrist shot past Emery to tie it at 13:29.

Kuznetsov has eight points in his last eight games.

Washington had two power play opportunities early in the first period, but couldn't muster a shot.

The only scoring chance came during the second one, when Holtby got his pad on Sean Couturier's short-handed breakaway attempt to preserve the scoreless tie.

NOTES: Flyers F Scott Laughton fought Capitals D Matt Niskanen midway thought the first period. In the teams' last meeting, Jan. 14, a clean, open-ice hit by Niskanen knocked Laughton out of the game, and the winger missed seven games with a concussion. . Flyers F Michael Raffl (pneumonia) missed his fifth straight game. . Capitals D Mike Green (lower body injury) returned after missing one game.