Giroux Scores In 3rd And Shootout As Flyers Beat Red Wings, 2-1
LARRY LAGE, AP Hockey Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek proved to be quite a combination to keep the Philadelphia Flyers streaking.
Giroux and Voracek scored in a shootout and teamed up for a game-tying goal in the third period, lifting Philadelphia to a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night.
Michal Neuvirth denied two of Detroit's three shooters in one-on-one duels after stopping 29 shots to extend the Flyers' season-high point streak to six games that includes five victories.
"We've started to string together some consistency," Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds said.
Pavel Datsyuk was the only Red Wing to get the puck past Neuvirth in the shootout.
Giroux pulled Philadelphia into a 1-all tie early in the third on an assist from Voracek.
"It was a tight game, and we knew it would be without a lot of time and space," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. "We needed one play to get ourselves back to even and he and Jake went out and made that play for us."
Detroit's Brendan Smith was called for hooking with 4.8 seconds left in regulation. The Flyers had a goal waved off after the ensuing faceoff because a leaping Simmonds was called for goalie interference.
That set up a 3-on-3 overtime for nearly 2 minutes of the extra period. After both penalties were killed, both teams had four skaters and not many scoring chances.
The Red Wings had won five of six, all coming on a road trip.
The Flyers had a 5-on-3 power play midway through the third but couldn't get a shot past Petr Mrazek, who made a spectacular glove save to stop Voracek's slap shot and finished with 30 saves.
"Both goalies are from the Czech, they had a little competition going," Simmonds said. "They were unbelievable. Neuvy did a little better in the shootout to give us the win."
Detroit's Niklas Kronwall broke a scoreless tie late in the second period.
Kronwall ended his 18-game goal-scoring skid with 1:35 left in the second. His shot from the top of the left circle skipped off the front of Radko Gudas' sweater and past Neuvirth. Gudas, a Philadelphia defenseman, was engaged with Detroit's Darren Helm as they skated across the front of the crease and Helm grazed Neuvirth's glove. The goal stood after reviewing whether Helm interfered with Neuvirth.
"The goalie didn't see anything," Kronwall said. "We got a lucky bounce there."
Flyers center Ryan White was ejected 2:20 into the game. White was given a match penalty for using his right shoulder to hit Tomas Jurco in the head. White may face additional discipline from the NHL as a repeat offender. While playing for the Montreal Canadiens in 2013, White was suspended for five games by the league for an illegal check.
White's penalty put the Red Wings on the power play for 5 minutes, but they failed to take advantage.
"You've got to find a way to get a goal or two there," Kronwall said. "It's a great opportunity to really get a head start, but we didn't take advantage."
Philadelphia went on a power play late in the first period and didn't score. Both teams had at least one power play in the third period but couldn't take advantage of opportunities to score a go-ahead goal.
NOTES: Datsyuk scored or assisted on six straight goals, spanning three games. "He's feeling it," Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "He's been playing well for us here for the last two months, probably our best player."... Giroux scored his team-leading 13th goal, shooting the puck off the left post from the bottom of the right circle. ... Detroit F Teemu Pulkkinen played after missing 18 games.
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