Giroux helps Senators defeat Flyers in return, end seven-game skid

PHILADELPHIA -- Claude Giroux had three assists in his return to Wells Fargo Center, helping the Ottawa Senators defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Saturday.

Giroux played for the Flyers from 2007-2022, including the final 10 seasons as captain.
"I didn't want to get emotional," Giroux said. "I wanted to play a good game. The position we are (in) as a team, we needed this win. You try to stay focused as much as you can."
The Flyers played a video tribute prior to the game for Giroux, who received a long ovation from the crowd.
"It was tough," he said. "The fans here, I wasn't too sure what to expect, but they treated me well. So many memories in this building. That video, I wish they showed that video at the end of the game because they showed that video and then (I) had to go for a shift right away, so that was tough. But it's part of the game. You've got to be professional and just do your job."

Alex DeBrincat scored two power-play goals, and Tim Stutzle had a goal and assist for Ottawa (5-8-1), which had lost seven straight (0-6-1). Brady Tkachuk had three assists, and Cam Talbot made 37 saves.
Kevin Hayes scored for the Flyers (7-5-2). Carter Hart made 23 saves.
"You can't win in the National Hockey League when you're playing against two opponents, the opponent themselves and us," Flyers coach John Tortorella said. "We did so many good things, but then we imploded. Just unnecessary penalties."
Hayes put the Flyers ahead 1-0 at 6:05 of the first period when he poked a loose puck in the crease under Talbot.
Thomas Chabot tied the game 1-1 at 14:28, beating Hart blocker side on a breakaway.
Chabot, though, left the game 26 seconds into the third period after being hit into the boards from behind by Flyers forward Travis Konecny. Coach D.J. Smith did not have an update on his condition after the game.
DeBrincat put Ottawa ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal with 49 seconds remaining in the second period. Tkachuk got the puck down low on the right side of Philadelphia's zone, drew two defenders to him, and passed across to DeBrincat, who was open for the backdoor goal.
DeBrincat then made it 3-1 with a power-play goal at 6:52 of the third, scoring off a pass from Giroux off the end boards. Giroux has 10 points (four goals, six assists) during an eight-game point streak.

"You could tell the way he was playing out there that he was our emotional leader throughout the entire game," Talbot said.
It was DeBrincat's first two-goal game with the Senators, who acquired him in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 7.
"It's nice to see the puck go in the net," DeBrincat said. "Frustrating couple games before, it wasn't going in, so it's nice to get those in and hopefully keep going."
The Flyers had killed off nine straight short-handed situations in their three previous games.
"They get two power-play goals, and I think that's the game," Hart said. "End of the day, my job as a goaltender is to stop the puck, and I'm a big part of the penalty kill as well. I have to find a way to make some more saves."
Stutzle scored an empty-net goal with 3:54 remaining for the 4-1 final.
DeBrincat said there was extra motivation to win for Giroux.
"He's been the face of the franchise for X-amount of years now and it's awesome to see him come back, see the warm welcome he got," DeBrincat said. "He obviously wanted that one a lot. We battled hard out there. He played a great game and kind of led us out there."
NOTES:Flyers forward Wade Allison had to be helped off the ice after making a hit on Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker with 4:40 remaining in the second period. There was no update after the game. ... Konecny had an assist on Hayes' goal, giving him seven points (one goal, six assists) during a five-game point streak. ... Chabot's goal was first point in seven games. ... Senators defenseman Nick Holden played his 600th NHL game. He had one shot on goal and two blocked shots in 19:30 of ice time. ... The Flyers set a team-record with 59 hits, including a team-high nine by forward Scott Laughton.