Flyers rally to defeat Red Wings for seventh win in eight games

PHILADELPHIA-- The biggest difference for Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux this season from last season is that he's healthy.
Giroux had three assists in a 4-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday.

He set up the tying and winning goals in the third period for his third three-point game in 34 games this season. Last season, he had two three-point games in 82 games, when he was working his way back after hip and abdominal muscle surgeries in May 2016.
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"I don't like to talk about it, to be honest, but I feel pretty good," Giroux said. "You've got to keep working at it, you've got to keep taking care of your body.
"It got a little personal [with people doubting me]. Try not to read too many things, but there wasn't a lot of positive articles out there this summer. You take that as motivation. You want to push yourself to be the best player you can be."
Wayne Simmonds had a goal and an assist, and Dale Weise and Robert Hagg scored for the Flyers (15-12-7), who have won seven of eight games after a 10-game losing streak. Brian Elliott made 25 saves.

Giroux started the play that led to Sean Couturier's tiebreaking goal at 5:57 of the third period, making a diagonal pass through the offensive zone to Simmonds. He centered it to Couturier, who scored after Jimmy Howard saved his initial attempt.
"This year right from Day One he's been at a real high level," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said of Giroux. "You look at his energy level, his compete level. The compete level has never changed in my opinion. But the energy level and his ability to get where he wants to go and be in on the fight seems to be and has been at a high level all year."
Mike Green had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings (13-14-7), who won 6-3 at the New York Islanders on Tuesday. Gustav Nyquist and Martin Frk scored, and Howard made 27 saves.
"I thought we did have guys play lots of minutes the past two nights," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. "It seemed like we didn't have as much push as we needed to have."
Hagg tied it 3-3 at 13:40 of the second period with his first NHL goal, a slap shot from the left point that went between Couturier's skates. Giroux got an assist with a backhand pass off the right wall.
Green's power-play goal at 5:50 of the second period gave the Red Wings a 2-1 lead. The Flyers tied it 2-2 on Simmonds' power-play goal on a set-up by Voracek at 10:48, and the Red Wings made it 3-2 41 seconds later on a goal by Nyquist.

Weise gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 15:19 of the first period, and the Red Wings tied it 1-1 on a power-play goal by Frk with two seconds left.

Goal of the game

Couturier's goal at 5:57 of the third period.

Save of the game

Elliott's save on Green with 46 seconds remaining in the third period.

Highlight of the game

Hagg's goal at 13:40 of the second period.

They said it

"I thought that maybe we weren't really strong on our pucks at certain times and that cost us one goal there. Then you've got to tip the hat to them. They made some nice plays for their goals. You try to prescout and do everything, but sometimes they make plays, there's nothing you can do." -- Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg
"I was just closing my eyes and hoping for the best. When I looked up and saw the puck go in, there was a lot of emotions coming out." -- Flyers defenseman Robert Hagg, who scored his first NHL goal in his 35th game

Need to know

Couturier's goal was his 16th, an NHL career high. He scored 15 in 2014-15. … Red Wings forward Luke Glendening missed the final two periods because of injury. Blashill said he hoped to have an update Friday. … Flyers forward Taylor Leier (upper body) was scratched and is day to day. Jori Lehtera replaced him and played 7:33 after being scratched the prior seven games. … Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin had two assists and has five in his past two games. … Zetterberg had an assist to give him eight points (one goal, seven assists) during a five-game point streak. … Giroux's three-assist game was his 15th in the NHL, first since Oct. 18, 2016. … Voracek leads the NHL with 34 assists. He leads the Flyers with 42 points, three more than Giroux (13 goals, 26 assists).

What's next

Red Wings: At the Boston Bruins on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; SN, NESN, FS-D, NHL.TV)
Flyers: At the Buffalo Sabres on Friday (7 p.m. ET; SN, MSG-B, NBCSP, NHL.TV)