Giroux's shootout goal leads Flyers past Bruins
Claude Giroux got creative after watching two Philadelphia teammate come up empty in the shootout.
Giroux fooled Boston goalie Tuukka Rask with a backhand-to-forehand move, then Michael Ryder's wrist shot hit the post on Boston' final attempt, giving the Flyers a 4-3 victory over the Bruins on Thursday night.
"We practiced it a couple of times, and I thought I'd try it," Giroux said. "If it didn't work, I would've looked stupid, but it worked."
Playing for only the second time in 12 days because of a scheduling quirk, the well-rested Flyers shook off some rust by the peppering 39 shots at Rusk. Philadelphia is 1-1 in shootouts.
Philadelphia (4-2-1) snapped a three-game losing streak after starting the season 3-0 for the first time since 1998-99. Boston dropped to 4-5-0. They have followed each of their wins with a loss this season.
The Bruins, who beat Nashville 3-2 on Wednesday night, are playing without injured stars Marc Savard and Milan Lucic. They were outshot 39-26. Philadelphia's Ray Emery stopped 23 shots.
Matt Hunwick smacked a wrist shot from just inside the blue line, giving Boston a 2-1 lead.
Philadelphia's Darroll Powe answered 1:05 later. Ole-Kristian Tollefsen's shot from the blue line hit the post, and Powe flicked Dan Carcillo's behind-the-net pass past Rask's glove for the tie.
Philadelphia's Aaron Asham's slap shot from the right faceoff circle made it 3-2 with 6:54 left in the second, but Boston left wing Steve Begin knocked in a rebound to tie it.
Chris Pronger's one-timer opened the scoring for the Flyers. Derek Morris' power-play goal late in the first period evened the score.
The Flyers had a chance in the game's closing seconds, but Jeff Carter's short-handed breakaway attempt was stopped.
A quiet five-minute overtime sent the teams into a shootout. Danny Briere's attempt missed wide right and Tusk stopped a shot by Mike Richards. For Boston, Ray Emery denied Blake Wheeler and Patrice Bergeron.
Flyers coach John Stevens selected Giroux, and the right wing didn't disappoint. He entered that appearance 0-for-3 in his career.
"I think the kid flourishes in that spotlight there," Stephens said. "We had a shootout practice the other day and he made a similar move. We've used him a few times before, but he's made good moves and not scored. We decided to give him a shot tonight, so I'm glad I did."
Powe knew something was coming.
"It's always fun watching him play," Powe said. "That move he pulled had everyone off their feet. He's a special player and a guy who can do that. I knew he'd do that. Pretty sick."
Rask had little chance.
"He has good hands," he said. "I played against him in the minors. ... I had no idea what he was going to do. He made a good move."
NOTES: Philadelphia Phillies' pinch-hitter Matt Stairs attended the game. ... Carter played in his 221st straight regular-season game. ... Tollefsen had his first career two-point game. ... All four Flyers' home games have been decided by one goal.
