Flyers shake off rust to take back-and-forth affair from Bruins in shootout

 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Flyers Win In Shootout

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Game Information

Arena: Wachovia Center Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Referees: Paul Devorski, Steve Kozari Linesmen: Pierre Champoux, Steve Miller

Attendance: 19,303 (99.0% full)

Team Stat Comparison
54	Goals	71
55	Goals Against	58
12	Power Play Goals	22
13	Power Play Goals Allowed	18
2	Shorthanded Goals	1
3	Shorthanded Goals Allowed	3
291	Penalty Minutes	347
13	Average Penalty Minutes	17

Scoring Summary
1ST PERIOD			BOS	PHI
12:03		Chris Pronger Assists: Matt Carle, James van Riemsdyk	0	1
17:26		Derek Morris (Power Play) Assists: Zdeno Chara, Marco Sturm	1	1
2ND PERIOD			BOS	PHI
7:36		Matt Hunwick Assists: David Krejci	2	1
8:41		Darroll Powe Assists: Daniel Carcillo, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen	2	2
13:06		Arron Asham Assists: Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Danny Syvret	2	3
16:26		Steve Begin Assists: Byron Bitz, Derek Morris	3	3
3RD PERIOD			BOS	PHI
No scoring this period			3	3
OT			BOS	PHI
No scoring this period			3	3
Shootout Summary
	Start of Shootout period
	Shootout attempt by Danny Briere MISSES wide of net (Snapshot 24 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Blake Wheeler SAVED by Ray Emery (Backhand 5 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Mike Richards SAVED by Tuukka Rask (Backhand 10 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Patrice Bergeron SAVED by Ray Emery (Backhand 7 ft)
	Shootout GOAL scored by Claude Giroux on Tuukka Rask (Wristshot 9 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Michael Ryder MISSES goalpost (Wristshot 23 ft)
	End of Shootout
	End of Shootout period

PHILADELPHIA -- 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.

Fast Fact

• The Flyers beat Boston at home for the first time since November 2007.

• The Bruins have alternated wins and losses in every game this season.

• The Flyers ended a three-game skid.

• Boston's four-game win streak in Philadelphia was their longest since 1970-1973, when they won nine straight.

-- ESPN Stats & Information

"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 Daniel Carcillo's behind-the-net pass past Rask's glove for the tie.

Philadelphia's Arron 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, 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."

Game 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.