Flyers defeat Jets, end losing streak

PHILADELPHIA --The Philadelphia Flyers ended a five-game losing streak with a 2-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.
Claude Giroux and Andrew MacDonald scored, and Petr Mrazek made 27 saves for Philadelphia (35-23-11), which is in third place in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the Washington Capitals and one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins.

WATCH: [All Jets vs. Flyers highlights]
"We had a tough stretch and we couldn't find ways to win and it was a good test for us," Giroux said. "Winnipeg's a pretty good team and I think we played a responsible game tonight."
Patrik Laine scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves for Winnipeg (41-18-9), which had won four in a row. The Jets are second in the Central Division, seven points behind the Nashville Predators.
Mrazek had allowed 18 goals on 123 shots in losing four straight games in a seven-day span, but didn't play in a 3-2 loss against the Boston Bruins on Thursday and was off the ice Friday.

"I felt pretty good from the beginning," Mrazek said. "We all knew what kind of team Winnipeg is, they have a good power play, second in the League, playing good hockey right now on the road. We did really well defensively and it's a big win for us."
Laine scored on the power play at 8:58 of the third period, one-timing a pass from Blake Wheeler to make it 2-1. The goal was Laine's 40th of the season, tying Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals for the NHL lead.
"Now I'm not happy because we lost, but maybe tomorrow I'll be happier," Laine said. "I've got to be proud of myself, that's a great number. But now it doesn't feel good."
The Jets forward has nine goals during a five-game goal streak, and 21 points (15 goals, six assists) during an 11-game point streak.

It was his 76th NHL goal, tying him with Brian Bellows and Wayne Gretzky for the third-most by a teenager, behind Jimmy Carson (92) and Dale Hawerchuk (85). Laine turns 20 on April 19.
"He's a special young man, 19 years old and still growing into his body, really competitive guy, wants to score," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "He's going to be a good Winnipeg Jet for a long time."
Giroux gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 5:40 of the second period during a delayed penalty. He jumped in as the extra attacker, took a pass from Valterri Filppula and found an open spot on the left side of the offensive zone.
Giroux has seven points (two goals, five assists) during a six-game point streak.
"I saw [Filppula] going backdoor and I was looking to pass the whole way," Giroux said. "Lucky enough the fans were yelling at me to shoot, so I just tried to find a hole and it went in."
MacDonald made it 2-0 at 8:01 of the second period. Officials ruled Hellebuyck made the save on a backhand from the right side, but video review showed the puck crossed the goal line and play was stopped less than a minute later.
"I was more mad I missed it on the rebound after it came out of [Hellebuyck's] glove," MacDonald said. "I thought I should have had that one. I got to the bench and [Giroux] mentioned it was in and within seconds they blew the horn. Nice feeling to be able to chip in like that."

Goal of the game

Giroux's goal at 5:40 of the second period

Save of the game

Mrazek's save on Laine at 5:56 of the first period

Highlight of the game

Laine's goal at 8:58 of the third period

They said it

"I think we all believed right in to the end. It's just one of those nights where we didn't do it. If I was a betting man I would say a majority of the time we do get that equalizer. I thought we played pretty hard tonight."-- Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck
"You don't want to let games pile up the wrong way against you, especially at this time of the year and the way our race is going. For us to be able to come in tonight and have a great, complete game was really big for the team." -- Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald

Need to know

Maurice said defenseman Toby Enstrom was sore and replaced him with defenseman Tucker Poolman, who was recalled from Manitoba of the American Hockey League. … Flyers defenseman Robert Hagg will be out two weeks because of a lower-body injury, and defenseman Johnny Oduya is day to day because of an upper-body injury. Defenseman Travis Sanheim was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the AHL on Friday and was plus-1 in 12:44 of ice time in his first NHL game since Jan. 13. … Wheeler and Flyers forward Jakub Voracek each had his NHL-best 58th assist.

What's next

Jets:At the Washington Capitals on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, NBCSWA, TSN3, NHL.TV)
Flyers:Host the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SN, NBCSP, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV)