Giroux, Ghost work more magic as Flyers playoff hopes remain alive
It was a game where the Flyers needed to two points regardless, but as the night wore on, it became a game the Flyers couldn't afford to lose. With Detroit enjoying a comfortable win on home ice themselves, the Flyers battled with tired legs and a relaxed Winnipeg Jets team into the waning moments of regulation and eventually overtime.
Just seconds away from the dreaded shootout, the captain and the rookie cued up another highlight-reel moment.
Shayne Gostisbehere made another amazing play, diving to keep the puck alive in the slot, before feeding Claude Giroux for the game-winning goal in a 3-2 Flyers win over the Jets that kept them in the playoff race.
"I thought right from start to finish it was an absolutely great effort by the guys on our bench and in our locker room," head coach Dave Hakstol said. "They battled and emptied the tank coming off of a pretty tough road trip and a long travel day. The guys battled until the bitter end and that’s what it took."
"Tonight physically we were a little tired, but coach talked to us and made sure mentally that we took care of the puck and played the right way," Giroux said. "Maybe physically we weren't there but mentally I think we took care of pucks."
To think, this was almost not possible 24 hours ago. The Flyers fan base was holding its collective breath when Giroux left Saturday's game early and had to undergo the concussion protocol. Giroux said he was fine.
It's safe to say that he is more than fine.
Giroux was right in the middle of another defining moment for the Flyers. And the other catalyst on the game-winning goal was the rookie defenseman that has so many times before stolen the show.
It was a play that almost defies logic. Mark Scheifele deflected Giroux's centering pass for a streaking Gostisbehere not once, but twice. Before it could settle, Gostisbehere not only got his stick on it to break it up, he batted it through Scheifele's legs and onto his stick. Then he had the presence of mind to corral the puck with his hand, transfer to the stick and pass to Giroux.
It wasn't the first time Ghost left fans in total awe over a play.
Remember last Tuesday's devastating loss to the Blue Jackets? Before the shootout that ultimately sent the Flyers to their demise, Gostisbehere nearly helped the Flyers win another game on a similar play.
Gostisbehere's dove like a shortstop to keep the puck in the zone on a power play before setting up Wayne Simmonds alone in front of the net. A sprawling save by Sergei Bobrovsky thwarted that chance, but it shouldn't be overlooked.
Gostisbehere has smarts that are nearly unheard of, certainly unlike anything seen in Philadelphia since Giroux was breaking through. In the heart of a playoff race, Gostisbehere is continuing to make noise in another race, the one for the Calder Trophy. Gostisbehere was already named the Flyers nominee for the Masterton Trophy on Monday.
The rookie's assist brought him to 42 points on the season in 57 games. But it's plays like that and not the points that really show his impact.
"I was going to change, I was pretty tired," Giroux said. "I tried to get back because they had a three on two and they missed the net so I was about to get it and Ghost had a break away. I was pretty tired I couldn’t make the pass, but he did a good job of recovering the puck."
"G just had to get the puck through. Nine out of 10 times he normally does. Just hit his stick hopped in the air," Gostisbehere said. "I just followed it up trying to time where it landed and just try to bang it out of the way because he was going the other way. Glad it worked out.
"Timing was good. I’m just glad it worked out. It was lucky, it was desperation, and G had to finish it, too, and he did a heck of a job."
It was a good thing he did finish it. The Flyers have missed out on eight points already this season from shootout losses and couldn't afford the ninth. Ghost's heads-up play and Giroux's finish saved the Flyers playoff race for now.
Detroit kept the pressure on with a win of their own, but the Flyers still hold the edge, which is all they can control for now.
"You have to do the little things," Hakstol said. "Little things lead to big things on a night like tonight and it starts with effort. Staying out of the box, some timely plays, and overall great effort. The energy you could see the guys starting to get zapped a little bit as the second period wore on, but guys stayed with it."
"Like we’ve said these past few months we’re just going to worry about us," Giroux said. "It’s tough not to look at a scoreboard, but we worry about us. We are pretty consistent in the way we play. When you're consistent in the way you want to play as a team and your identity, you come in every night and do it. I think you are going to give yourself a chance to win every game."
After surviving fatigue and overtime against the Jets, a team with nothing to play for, the Flyers get a potential playoff preview on Wednesday when they face the Washington Capitals. It will be a different kind of test for the Flyers, who have played teams from out of conference lately. It is where the real playoffs essentially begin.
"Every game matters to us," Gostisbehere said. "We don’t care who we’re playing and I’m pretty sure the other team doesn’t care if we’re in the playoff push or not. We got to be ready. We had a good start again. We got a little lackadaisical in the second and we’ll turn it around and focus on the games ahead. We’re a no excuse team."
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
