Giroux, Flyers beat Sabres 5-4 in OT

December 8, 2011

Flyers.NHL.com, Getty Images

The Flyers went into Buffalo with a two game win streak Wednesday night, but the Sabres looked like they were going to end that streak in the First Niagara Center.

Former Flyer Ville Leino (3, 10:16), Zack Kassian (3, 18:55), and Thomas Vanek (13, 19:37), all scored in the first period, to put the Flyers in a 3-0 hole.

With one second left in the first, Max Talbot found the net (7, 19:59), cutting the deficit two.

The second period was all Flyers.

Matt Read (11, 5:17), Scott Hartnell (12, 14:45), and Jaromir Jagr (9, 17:48), each scored to give the Flyers a total of four unanswered goals over the first two periods, and giving Philadelphia a 4-3 lead.

The Sabres would tie it up though, as Drew Stafford scored late for the only goal in the third period (5, 18:25).

So, we head to overtime.

Claude Giroux was having an incredible night already, recording an assist on all three of the Flyer's goals in the second period. Giroux's assists gave him a total of 36 points, tying him with Toronto's Phil Kessel for the lead in season points.

Then, in overtime, this happened.

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Giroux intercepted a pass from Buffalo defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani, then broke out on the break away.

By the time Giroux got into Buffalo's zone, goaltender Ryan Miller stood no chance. Giroux scored the game winner to become the NHL's points leader, and giving the Flyer's a 5-4 overtime win over Buffalo.

Ryan Miller faced 34 Philadelphia shots, saving 29 of them.

Ilya Bryzgalov had another rough start, allowing three early goals, but settled down as the game moved on. He made 20 saves out of a total of 24 shots.

The Flyers move back up to second place in the Atlantic Division, after falling into third behind the New York Rangers.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in first place, and the Flyers will have the oppurtunity to gain some ground on their interstate rival when the Penguins come to town Thursday night.

Extra Notes

From NHL.com

"Buffalo's Ville Leino will face a hearing with the Department of Player Safety on Thursday afternoon.

Leino's hearing is in regard to the elbow he delivered to the head of Philadelphia's Matt Read in Wednesday night's game, a 5-4 overtime win by the Flyers."


Flyers.NHL.com
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2011020403

ESPN.com
http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400046892