Philadelphia Flyers get Eastern top spot after 5-3 win over Carolina Hurricanes -NHL Match Update
Claude Giroux picked up three points during Philadelphia’s matchup against Carolina and helped the Flyers to victory, taking over the Eastern Conference top spot, defeating the Hurricanes, 5-3, Monday night, November 14, 2011, at the RBC Center in Raleigh,
North Carolina, United States.
Philadelphia has now ended their three game road trip, 2-1, with a minor loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning in overtime and two straight wins after that.
Carolina stands number 13 in the conference with only 15 points and will need to do much better in their upcoming matchups in order to maintain a good position.
"I really think it starts with good leadership", said Philadelphia coach, Peter Laviolette, who coached Carolina to the Stanley Cup title in 2006. "I think our leadership has been excellent, and from there it comes down to competitiveness. We've got a good
group in there that really works hard".
Claude Giroux scored his 10th goal of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season in the opening two minutes of the first period while Maxime Talbot added another nearly midway through to extend the lead.
Patrick Dwyer made a miraculous goal with only a second remaining and above all that, when the team was shorthanded as Tuomo Ruutu was booked at the 18:51 mark for slashing Zac Rinaldo.
Giroux potted his second of the night 2:45 into the second 20 minute round while Wayne Simmonds fired off during their only power play opportunity of the period.
Ruutu followed back by scoring another to bring the home team within reach of the score by two, making the second round nearly identical to the first.
Patrick Dwyer was awarded with a penalty shot shorthanded for his second of the night as well, both goals being at crucial moments, giving Carolina more than 15 minutes in the third period to level the game and potentially force overtime, but Matt Read’s
insuring goal at the 16:09 mark gave Philadelphia the boost they needed.
"It's only one game", said Giroux, who has 11 goals and 11 assists after his first multi-goal game of the season. "The other lines brought a lot of energy and got the team going. It was obviously a team effort tonight".
The Flyers will be returning home to face the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday while the Hurricanes will be visiting Montreal to play against the Canadiens on Wednesday.
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