Giroux leads third period rally as Flyers defeat the Bruins

Claude Giroux led the Flyers third period comeback. The captain scored his second of the season to give the Flyers life. Wayne Simmonds tied the game three minutes later before Giroux would finish it off in overtime to give the Flyers a 5-4 victory Wednesday night in Boston.

The first period started well for Philadelphia. Play moved back and forth until the 9:28 mark of the period. That's when the Flyers struck first.

Pierre-Edouard Bellmare netted his first goal of the season. He slammed home a rebound in front. Chris VandeVelde and Ryan White picked up the assists.

The lead did not last long.

Brett Connolly tied the game exactly four minutes later. The goal was Connolly's first of the season.

The Flyers would retake the lead less than two minutes later when Sam Gagner potted his second of the year. Gagner sniped a shot past Tukka Rask . Scott Laughton and Luke Schenn picked up the assists.

Patrice Bergeron would once again tie it back up two minutes later. Bergeron's fourth goal of the season came on a Boston powerplay as Claude Giroux was serving a double minor for high sticking.

Flyers starter Michal Neuvirth appeared to get injured on the goal and would not come out for the start of the second.

The Flyers would lose yet another player as the period ended when Sean Couturier was hit up high by former Flyer Zac Rinaldo. The hit resulted in a five minute major and game misconduct for Rinaldo.

The Flyers could do nothing with the fresh ice and five minutes of power play time. Instead they allowed a shorthanded goal. 

Chris Kelly put Boston ahead 3-2 with 30 seconds left on the Rinaldo major. Kelly tipped in a shot for his second of the season.

Four minutes later Jimmy Hayes scored his first of the season to give Boston a 4-2 lead. Hayes beat Steve Mason to the short side on the rush.

The period would end with Boston holding the two goal lead.

Early in the third Mason made a brilliant save in tight. The play was reviewed and the save counted. From there on, the Flyers controlled play.

Claude Giroux got the Flyers to within one with his second goal of the season. The captain slammed home a rebound off a Jakub Voracek shot at 7:48.

Wayne Simmonds would tie the game less than three minutes later. Simmonds picked up his first of the season when he beat Rask high to the far side of the rush.

The game would head to overtime. Micheal Del Zotto drew a penalty in the extra session and the Flyers would capitalize. Claude Giroux scored the game winner on the power play to give the Flyers a 5-4 win.

Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074