Claude Giroux ends goal-scoring drought
Wayne Simmonds wasn't alarmed by Claude Giroux's goal-scoring drought. "I still think he's playing well; he's playing a complete, 200-foot game," the Flyers right winger said Tuesday before the matchup against Boston. "Sometimes you don't always get the bounces, you don't always get the goals. But if you're doing the right thing, things will turn for you - and I definitely think G is doing that. Things are going to turn sooner rather than later."
Wayne Simmonds wasn't alarmed by Claude Giroux's goal-scoring drought.
"I still think he's playing well; he's playing a complete, 200-foot game," the Flyers right winger said Tuesday before the matchup against Boston. "Sometimes you don't always get the bounces, you don't always get the goals. But if you're doing the right thing, things will turn for you - and I definitely think G is doing that. Things are going to turn sooner rather than later."
Giroux then made Simmonds look prophetic.
The Flyers' captain snapped a nine-game streak without a goal, scoring a power-play tally to give the Flyers a 2-0 first-period lead.
"I know I can play better," Giroux said before the game. "You just try to do your best and help the team win."
He has hardly been used on the penalty kill this season to conserve his energy. On the positive side, Giroux entered the night leading the NHL with 11 power-play points, was tied for fourth in the league with 15 assists, and was among the faceoff leaders, winning 54.5 percent of his draws.
His goal Tuesday was just his fifth in the last 36 games, including last season's regular season and playoffs. Only one of those goals was scored at even strength.
Honoring Howe
Former Flyer Mark Howe and ECHL cofounder Pat Kelly will receive the Lester Patrick Trophy for their service to United States hockey on Wednesday night.
During a ceremony at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, former NHL player Craig Janney (Hartford, Conn.), longtime high school hockey coach Bill Belisle (Manville, R.I.) , and the 1996 U.S. World Cup team will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Howe grew up in Detroit while his legendary father, Gordie, was starring for the Red Wings. Mark Howe, regarded as the best defenseman in Flyers history, went into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.
Philadelphia is hosting this induction ceremony as part of the Flyers' 50th anniversary season. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum is in Eveleth, Minn.
Alumni game
When the Flyers face the Penguins in a Jan. 14 alumni game at the Wells Fargo Center, it will match Reggie Leach against his son, Jamie, who played 50 games with Pittsburgh.
The three best lines in Flyers history will participate in the games: Bill Barber, Bobby Clarke, and Leach; John LeClair, Eric Lindros, and Mikael Renberg; and Brian Propp, Dave Poulin, and Tim Kerr.
Joe Watson is the only original Flyer who will play in the game. So far, the biggest "name" player to commit to Pittsburgh's team is Bryan Trottier. Tickets are available on the Flyers' website.