Flyers fans weren't ready to stop.
Claude Giroux had just ripped a laser into the back of the net to give the Flyers a 3-2 third-period lead, just piling on to the clutch goals he's delivered over the course of this career season.
As the Jumbroton found Giroux sitting on the Flyers' bench moments after his 31st marker, the Wells Fargo Center grew even louder and fans then rose to their feet for a lengthy salute.
This was for the resurgence, for the career highs in goals, assists and points, for doing this all at age 30 when very few thought it was even remotely possible.
"He makes the players around him better, which is important for us," Jakub Voracek said Thursday after the Flyers' 4-3 win over the Hurricanes. "It's a great year for him."
And it's not done yet.
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This shouldn't be the last ovation. An encore could be in store Saturday.
The Flyers host the Rangers in what has the makings of a special day for the organization, specifically Giroux. Not only can the Flyers guarantee more playoff hockey in Philadelphia (see story), but the captain can also put a bow on his own franchise history.
Giroux is one point shy of becoming the first Flyer since Eric Lindros in 1995-96 to record a 100-point season. Only five players have done so wearing orange and black - Bill Barber, Bob Clarke, Lindros, Rick MacLeish and Mark Recchi. Furthermore, Giroux is also one assist away from passing Barber on the Flyers' all-time list with 464.
An already decorated player, Giroux can climb to another level Saturday - and the stage couldn't be better set.
"We plan on playing out best hockey against New York on Saturday," Giroux said. "We know what's at stake."
Giroux is humming along on a nine-game point streak and has gone scoreless just twice in the last 23 games, a stretch in which he has tallied 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists). His 68 assists lead the NHL, while his 99 points are third to only Connor McDavid (106) and Nikita Kucherov (100). McDavid is 21 years old, Kucherov 24.
When asked Thursday about finding another gear at this juncture of the season, Giroux deflected the praise onto his teammates.
"I think everyone is doing their job, everybody is doing what they're best at," he said. "When everybody does that, we get wins. We're all on the same page here, the guys want to play for each other."
They'll be playing for a lot Saturday.
If all goes right, another Giroux ovation will only be the appetizer.
