Flyers' Giroux hopes to keep producing in Game 5
After struggling along with his team for the first three playoff games, Flyers captain Claude Giroux had a different look in Game 4, and the by-product was that the Flyers extended their season and averted a sweep.
After struggling along with his team for the first three playoff games, Flyers captain Claude Giroux had a different look in Game 4, and the by-product was that the Flyers extended their season and averted a sweep.
Giroux set up the Flyers' first goal, assisting on Shayne Gostisbehere's first-period power-play blast in the Flyers' 2-1 win Wednesday over the visiting Washington Capitals.
Still down three games to one in their opening round best-of-seven Stanley Cup series, the Flyers will visit Washington for Game 5 on Friday.
"It's a relief a little bit to kind of produce and kind of help the team," Giroux said before Thursday's ceremony at the Wells Fargo Center that celebrated the life of team chairman and cofounder Ed Snider, who died April 11 after a two-year battle with bladder cancer. "You want to help the team as much as you can even, if it's defensively."
Then, daring to dream, as players do this time of year, Giroux added, "Hopefully it's the start of something."
As the captain, Giroux said that, especially at this time of year, he tries not to put extra pressure on himself. But he isn't always successful.
"You do put pressure on yourself," he said. "I think it's not bad to do that. I think it's good to make sure you push yourself to the best you can be and do the best you can do out there."
His assist of Gostisbehere's one-timer was Giroux's first point of the playoffs. When Giroux is on his game it has a positive impact on the rest of the Flyers. Not overly vocal, he is a leader by example.
"He is going to get his chance and score a huge goal or make a huge play like he did . . . to 'Ghost,' " said defenseman Mark Streit, referring to the assist on Gostisbehere's goal.
There are other areas that Giroux is still working on to improve, particularly faceoffs. During the regular season, he had a faceoff winning percentage of 57.5 percent. In the four games against Washington, that number has dipped to 47.3 percent. Even on Wednesday, Giroux won just 9 of 21 faceoffs (43 percent).
During the regular season, Giroux had 22 goals and team highs in both assists (45) and points (67). He earned his fourth All-Star Game appearance. When he is on his game, so usually are the Flyers.
"He's our captain. He's our leader, and he takes a lot upon himself," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. "He takes a lot on his shoulders when things don't go the right way for our hockey team."
That is why it was important for Giroux to make such an impactful play as the assist to Gostisbehere that opened the scoring 5 minutes, 51 seconds into the first period Wednesday.
"For him to get off to a great start last night, I think was a good signal for our hockey team," Hakstol said.
Giroux understands the odds still heavily favor the Capitals, but he said the Flyers got confidence from the win and, well, anything can happen.
"We know we're in a tough spot right now, and we need to keep playing the way we did last game," he said. "It's good to know we can be successful playing the way we want to play."
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