In his return, Radko Gudas a key contributor for Flyers

ST. LOUIS - Radko Gudas' return was a rousing success Thursday night.

The rugged Flyers' defenseman, back in the lineup after a three-game suspension for an illegal hit, played arguably his best game of the season in the Flyers' 4-2 win in St. Louis: Seven hits, three blocked shots, and a plus-4 rating.

"I was excited. I was ready to go. My body was rested, so I felt good out there," Gudas said after the Flyers' fourth straight road victory.

Gudas' plus-4 equaled a career best - and the first time he had that rating since a 2014 game for Tampa Bay against the Flyers.

The Czech Republic native fired five shots in the game, including four on goal.

"I'm just looking for my first one of the season," he said. "I want to get it as soon as I can."

Flyers goalie Steve Mason said Gudas may have the team's hardest shot.

"There are a couple of guys who have hard shots, too, but if the goalie said that, I cannot disagree with it," Gudas said with a smile.

Giroux shines. Claude Giroux had three points, giving him 14 points in his last nine games.

Late in the second period, Giroux made a series of sensational moves to score what turned out to be the winning goal.

"I wasn't surprised by the move; I see it all the time in practice," Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth said.

It was Giroux's first-ever goal against St. Louis, the last opponent in the NHL he had not scored on.

For the season, Giroux has 27 points, tied for 14th in the NHL.

Up next: Dallas. The Flyers (12-11-6) will have a tough test Friday when they play the rested Stars (21-5-2) in Dallas.

Dallas has the NHL's best record and leads the NHL in scoring (3.5 goals per game). The Stars have three of the league's top scorers: Jamie Benn (39 points), Tyler Seguin (39), and defenseman John Klingberg (30). Benn leads the NHL with 19 goals.

Mason and the Flyers dropped a 2-1 decision to visiting Dallas on Oct. 20.

Breakaways. Nick Schultz had seven of the Flyers' 15 blocked shots....Neuvirth, who stopped 35 of 37 shots, took over the NHL lead in save percentage (.938). "We came here for two points and followed the game plan. A good team effort on the road," Neuvirth said ... The Flyers have their first four-game road winning streak since 2011 ... Ryan White had an empty-net goal and seven hits. "All four lines contributed," coach Dave Hakstol said.