Flyers' Claude Giroux gets engaged to long-time girlfriend

OTTAWA - Flyers captain Claude Giroux and his long-time girlfriend, Ryanne Breton, got engaged Wednesday in Ottawa. Both grew up in the Ottawa area, and they met four years ago and began dating.

"It's been a long-time coming," Giroux, 28, said before Thursday's game against host Ottawa. "It's pretty exciting."

The couple celebrated with family on Wednesday night.

On Twitter, Breton wrote: "There are no words! This man. My heart is so full."

Giroux, who ended a nine-game goal-less streak Tuesday, enters Thursday tied for fifth in the NHL with 15 assists. He took a league-high 12 power-play points into the night.

The Flyers will be trying to equal their longest winning streak of the season, three games.

The Senators scored a 3-2 shootout win over the Flyers on Nov. 15. They tied the game with 1:59 left in regulation.

"They're finding ways to win," Giroux said.

"I thought it took us a better part of the first period to adjust to the speed of their transition (game) and the way they get up ice," coach Dave Hakstol said. "Their forecheck is really aggressive, so we have to be sharp in that area."

Steve Mason (6-8-3, 2.96 GAA) will oppose Ottawa's Mike Condon (2-1, 1.76).