Capitals 7, Flyers 0: Joel Ward recorded his first career hat trick and Braden Holtby turned aside 30 shots despite getting battered in a goalie fight as visiting Washington breezed to victory in a penalty-filled affair.

Nicklas Backstrom scored two goals and set up another while Jason Chimera tallied for the fourth straight contest and added three assists. Troy Brouwer netted a power-play tally to cap a five-goal second period and Mikhail Grabovski notched three assists for the Capitals, who weren't fazed by the absence of captain Alex Ovechkin.

Holtby secured his first shutout of the season and eighth career, although he clearly was on the wrong end of a decision against Ray Emery (11 saves) during a fight-filled third period. Steve Mason, who was chased after allowing the game's first three goals, came back in and finished with 14 saves.

Washington failed to register a shot on goal until more than 15 minutes expired in the first period, but Backstrom made good on the team's second of the session. The center blasted a one-timer past Mason and into the top left corner of the net with 2:32 left in the period.

The Capitals put the game on ice with three goals in a 2:25 span early in the second - a spurt that featured Ward's first tally and Chimera's breakaway goal and sent Mason to the bench. Emery entered and promptly yielded three goals before Ward converted a brilliant feed from Chimera during a power play to complete the hat trick at 5:23 of the third.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The teams combined for 164 penalty minutes, with the Flyers picking up the lion's share (99). ... Philadelphia RW Steve Downie, who was acquired from Colorado for RW Max Talbot on Thursday, received a two-minute minor for instigation, a five-minute major for fighting and a 10-minute misconduct for his altercation with Washington LW Aaron Volpatti in jthe second period. ... Ovechkin suffered an upper-body injury while crashing into the net during Monday's 3-2 loss at Vancouver.