Giroux Nets Hat Trick as Flyers Clinch Playoff Spot

(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers entered Saturday's game knowing the task at hand. One point, and they were in the playoffs. They hardly settled for just one point.

Claude Giroux scored three goals for his first regular-season hat trick to surpass the 100-point mark on the season as the Flyers steamrolled the New York Rangers, 5-0, to clinch a playoff spot on Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center.

The Flyers came out with a strong first period and pushed the play. As a result, they were about to go on the first power play of the game, but used some extended time on the delayed call to strike first.

Jake Voracek threw a pass from the boards across the front of the net to Sean Couturier. Couturier was stopped in close by Henrik Lundqvist, but was not able to get the rebound. Couturier was able to knock the puck free and the loose puck went off of Ivan Provorov's shoulder and into the net for the first goal of the game at 6:34.

It was Provorov's 17th goal of the season. Couturier and Voracek continued their career seasons with the assists on the goal.

The Flyers outshot the Rangers, 13-7, in the first 20 minutes.

The second period was a tour de force by the Flyers. On their way to outshooting the Rangers, 18-5, in the middle frame, the Flyers added three goals to their total.

First, it was the captain on the power play. Giroux threw a shot on goal that deflected off of Neal Pionk's stick and by Lundqvist for his 32nd goal and 100th point of the season.

The Flyers didn't stop there, applying more pressure through the final minutes of the period. More good play by the top line added another goal, as a point shot by Radko Gudas was stopped by left a big rebound for Michael Raffl to turn and put home the rebound.

Just six seconds after making it 3-0, Giroux scored for the second time in the game for his 33rd goal of the season to blow the roof off Wells Fargo Center and make it 4-0.

The Flyers led in shots for the game, 31-12, after 40 minutes.

In the third, the Flyers played a conservative game, but saved room for one more piece of fireworks. Travis Sanheim sprung Giroux on a breakaway and the captain didn't miss, completing the hat trick for his 34th goal of the season to send Wells Fargo Center into a frenzy. 

Brian Elliott only needed 17 saves, but in the final game of the regular season, he picked up his first shutout as a Flyer.

Lundqvist made 35 saves on 40 shots.

The Flyers will now await the results of the rest of Saturday's games to find out who they will face in the first round of the playoffs.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• PHI Ivan Provorov (17) (Sean Couturier, Jake Voracek) 6:34

2nd Period

• PHI Claude Giroux (32) PP (Couturier, Shayne Gostisbehere) 12:24
• PHI Michael Raffl (13) (Radko Gudas, Brandon Manning) 17:53
• PHI Giroux (33) (Raffl) 17:59

3rd Period

• PHI Giroux (34) (Travis Sanheim) 10:11

Game Statistics