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Claude Giroux just keeps bringing the Flyers steadiness

Flyers notes include Giroux passing Bill Barber, Carter Hart's turn in net and Shayne Gostisbehere's second consecutive solid game.

Claude Giroux had three assists against the Rangers in his first game back on Wednesday. He did not have a point on Saturday, but still found ways to contribute to the Flyers' 3-0 win.
Claude Giroux had three assists against the Rangers in his first game back on Wednesday. He did not have a point on Saturday, but still found ways to contribute to the Flyers' 3-0 win.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer

Claude Giroux did not register a point on Saturday, but he had four of the Flyers’ 39 shots and again was dominant in the faceoff circle. He also took another step up in the Flyers’ record book.

Giroux played in his 904th career game to pass Bill Barber for second in Flyers history. Only Bobby Clarke (1,144) has played in more. Using some loose math, he’d pass Clarke midway through the 2024-25 season when Giroux will be 37 and the Eagles will be looking for a replacement for Nick Sirianni.

“He brings a calm to our team,” Oskar Lindblom said of Giroux, who earlier this season passed Clarke for most games played by a Flyers captain. “You know he’s always going to do the right thing.”

Giroux is on the left side of a line with Kevin Hayes at center and Nolan Patrick experimenting at right wing. He’s had 12 shots on goal in the two games since coming off the COVID-19 protocol list and won an impressive 72.4% of his faceoffs. He was 13 of 18 on Saturday.

You’re up, kid

Carter Hart will get a chance on Sunday to start digging himself out of an early-season slump that has his save percentage at .891 and his goals-against average at 3.68 per 60 minutes.

He gave up four goals to Buffalo in 28 minutes before being lifted on Jan. 18. Brian Elliott, who has shut out the Sabres in two starts this season, isn’t sweating Hart’s struggles.

“You know, you don’t get to this level without being able to handle some adversity,” Elliott said. “He’ll be fine, and all the guys know that.”

» READ MORE: Flyers roll over Sabres, 3-0, behind Brian Elliott

Ice chips

  1. Second-year defenseman Phil Myers was scratched as Justin Braun came off the COVID-19 protocol list. Braun was paired with Travis Sanheim between the top set of Shayne Gostisbehere-Ivan Provorov and Erik Gustafsson-Robert Hagg.

  2. Gostisbehere scored a goal and had six shots on net for the second consecutive game.

  3. Sean Couturier has four goals and five assists in five games since returning from a rib injury that cost him three weeks. He’s also plus-5.

  4. The Flyers are 2-0 in the second half of back-to-back games. They’ll have nine more after Sunday. Buffalo is 1-4 in the second half of back-to-back games.

  5. Travis Konecny is eligible to come off the COVID-19 protocol list on Sunday. He will not play on Sunday, but could be back during the Flyers’ three-game trip at Pittsburgh, which starts Tuesday.

The final word

“The mustache is here to stay. It’s kind of a lifestyle decision.” — Scott Laughton