Giroux Captures 2022 All-Star Game MVP Award

Claude Giroux became the third Philadelphia Flyers representative to earn Most Valuable Players in history of the NHL All-Star Game as he posted three goals and an assist in leading the Metropolitan Division All-Stars to the 3-on-3 mini-tournament championship at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday. The Flyers captain, who also captained the Metro team, joins Reggie Leach (1980) and Wayne Simmonds (2017) among the ranks of Flyers' reps to win the All-Star Game MVP Award.

For Giroux, the occasion was especially gratifying. He was accompanied over All-Star weekend this year by his wife, Ryanne, and their young son, Gavin.

Each game of the mini-tourney featured two halves of 10 minutes apiece. In the first game, the Metropolitan Division All-Stars jumped out to a 3-1 lead within the first 3:20 of the first half. At the 3:08 mark, Giroux scored a dazzling end-to-end goal for the second Metro goal. Starting out in his own end of the ice, Giroux stickhandled past Troy Terry, outmaneuvered goalie John Gibson and deposited the puck in the net.

In the second half of the game, the Pacific Division briefly battled back to tie the game at 3-3 before Metro side pulled away again. Giroux, the second-leading assist man in Flyers franchise history, showed off his playmaking skills at the 7:40 mark. The captain finessed a gorgeous saucer pass to Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel as the Penguins' player drove to the net. Guentzel then proceeded to bury the feed for a 5-3 Metro lead.

The Metro Division led the rest of the way, going on to a 6-4 victory. The team then awaited the winner of the Atlantic Division All-Stars vs. Central Division All-Stars match. In the highest-scoring game of the mini-tournament, the Central prevailed by an 8-5 count. This set up a "tourney championship" game of sorts between the Metro and the Central squads.
The Metro and Central traded off one goal apiece in the first 98 seconds of the deciding game. At the 2:42 mark of the first half, Giroux staked the Metro All-Stars to a 2-1 lead. On a 2-on-1 opportunity, Giroux skated into the slot to take a pass from Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski. In one smooth motion, Giroux quickly fired a forehander past goalie Cam Talbot (with a little bit of unintended help from the stick of defender Cale Makar).

The Metro led by a 4-2 score at the end of the first half. In the second half, the Central side quickly drew back within a goal. At 2;42. Giroux restored some breathing room for his side. He skated to the net and received a pass from Guentzel. Giroux then moved quickly to his backhand and stashed the puck home for his third goal and fourth point of the day.

There was no further scoring, as the Metro Division All-Stars went on to win the final game, 5-3. The players on the winning side split the $1,000 prize money evenly among themselves. Giroux, as All-Star Game MVP, received the traditional automobile prize given to the player selected as the most valuable player.

After the game, seven-time All-Star selection Giroux -- and Gavin -- soaked in the postgame atmosphere on the ice and in the victorious dressing room. Come Monday, the focus will shift back to the regular season. The Flyers will host the Detroit Red Wings at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday evening.