Flyers Stay in Playoff Hunt by Downing Detroit

Flyers beat Red Wings 4-3

The Flyers pulled a Bee Gees Sunday afternoon as they beat the Red Wings 4-3.

The Broad Street Bullies are “Staying Alive” in the Eastern Conference playoffs race.

All season, the Flyers have shown flashes of brilliance mixed with bouts of inconsistency.

For one day at least, the brilliance shined through at the best possible time.

Claude Giroux and Arron Asham scored second-period goals, Kimmo Timonen added a goal and an assist, and the Flyers beat Detroit.

“We were skating, hitting, playing physical,” said Philadelphia defenseman Chris Pronger. “When we play like that, we can be successful.”

Daniel Carcillo also scored for the Flyers, who had slipped to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 1-6-1 stretch over their previous eight games. Brian Boucher made 31 saves for Philadelphia, which began the day tied with the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot in the East.

“We all know what's at stake now,” Carcillo said. “We need to win out to get in. We knew it was a huge game.”

Despite goals from Dan Cleary, Darren Helm and Pavel Datsyuk, the Red Wings lost in regulation for the first time in 13 games. The defeat clinched the Central Division title for the Chicago Blackhawks.

In a game that had significant playoff implications for both teams, the Flyers got off to a sizzling start.

Carcillo opened the scoring just 17 seconds into the game with his 12th goal of the season. Following a turnover in the neutral zone, he skated in and snapped a wrister that went off Osgood's glove and into the net.

Timonen made it 2-0 seven minutes later, but the Red Wings answered with a pair of goals in a three-minute stretch. Cleary deposited a loose puck in front of the net for his 14th goal before Helm tied it on a rebound for his 11th.

Giroux gave the Flyers a 3-2 lead just 53 seconds into the second period, blasting a loose puck past Osgood. It was Giroux's 15th goal of the season, but his first in 14 games.

Asham made it 4-2 late in the second period, redirecting a pass from Timonen past a helpless Osgood.

With their playoff lives on the line, the Flyers spent the final minute diving in front of shots, trying to keep the puck out of the net at all costs.

“It felt good to beat a team like Detroit,” said Philadelphia winger Ian Laperriere. “That's the way we need to play every night. ... We have to win the rest of the way, but it's good to see we can play like that.”
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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