Giroux returns and scores in Flyers win over Coyotes

If the Flyers have a chance to make a playoff run, the return of Claude Giroux may have come just in time.

After missing three consecutive games with an "upper-body injury," believed to be a concussion, Giroux returned Saturday afternoon as the Flyers beat the Arizona Coyotes, 4-2, at the Wells Fargo Center.

With the victory, the Flyers (28-22-11) are one spot, and three points, out of a playoff berth.

"It's fun [to be back]," Giroux said. "When you don't do anything for a week it gets pretty long, but to be back on the ice and battle with your teammates to get a win - there's nothing better than that."

The Flyers captain made his presence felt early in the team's three-goal first period.

Giroux's goal - his 500th career point - came on a left-side wrist shot off an assist from Mark Streit, who had three assists and notched his 400th career point, and gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead.

The offense, however, didn't come only from Giroux.

Scott Laughton scored his sixth goal of the season, while Sam Gagner (fifth) and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (fifth) also tallied.

"Everyone has to chip in a little bit," said first-year coach Dave Hakstol. "That's the importance of Scottie Laughton scoring a goal, and Gagner got another one. You have to have that this time of year. Whether it's through injuries or other things, you have to have some depth and balance in all areas of the game."

Laughton started the scoring with a backhanded goal on an early break set up by a slick assist from Nick Cousins with 10 minutes, 30 seconds to play in the first.

"It was a great pass from 'Cousy,' " Laughton said. "I just saw the 'D' stepped up and tried to get behind them, and it worked out."

Giroux's goal followed with 2:18 left in the first. Gagner added the third with 1:39 left.

It was the first time this season that the Flyers scored three goals in the first period.

The Coyotes (27-29), losers of their last seven road contests, answered with a Brad Richardson goal in the first. Oliver Ekman-Larsson added another with 13:27 left in the game.

After a lackluster second period filled with giveaways and miscues, Bellemare gave the Flyers needed insurance with 2:45 left in the game. The center jammed in a goal near the crease after an assist from Wayne Simmonds.

"I think we got on our toes and started playing a little harder," Giroux said. ". . . We didn't have much after that, but [Michal Neuvirth] is playing some good hockey right now. He's got a lot of confidence, and we have to keep going here."

In the second game of a season-long six-game homestand, Neuvirth saved 29 shots.

"It was nice to see us scoring goals, especially in the first," Neuvirth said. "We were ready for them. It was a great team effort for a big win."

Voracek sits. Jake Voracek did not play (lower-body injury), breaking a streak of 286 consecutive games played, tied for third all-time in team history with Jeff Carter. Voracek, whose 38 assists lead the team and were tied for ninth overall in the NHL, hadn't missed a game since 2012.

@AceCarterInq