Claude Giroux broke out of a mini-scoring slump with two goals to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to the top of the Atlantic Division standings with a 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.
Giroux, the team leader in goals and points, had not recorded a point in two games before netting a snap shot just 1:19 into the contest as Philadelphia raced to a 4-1 lead and then held off a late rally by Carolina (6-9-3).
The win tied the Flyers (10-4-3) with the Pittsburgh Penguins for top spot in the division on 23 points apiece.
Philadelphia overwhelmed the Hurricanes with their early onslaught as Maxime Talbot tallied another first-period goal, while Giroux and Wayne Simmonds added goals in the second.
Patrick Dwyer led Carolina’s reply with his first two goals of the season.
He scored a wrist shot at the end of the first to make it 2-1 and, after teammate Tuomo Ruutu netted in the second, pulled the home team within one goal of the visitors again in the third.
With the Hurricanes pressing for a game-tying score in the closing minutes, Philadelphia’s Matt Read put the game away with a tip-in at 16:09.
SABRES 3, CANADIENS 2
In Montreal, Brad Boyes and Thomas Vanek scored in a shootout to help the Buffalo Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Monday.
Jhonas Enroth made 25 saves in place of injured starter Ryan Miller to improve to 6-0 this season.
Jason Pominville and Derek Roy scored in regulation for Buffalo, which overcame a 2-0 deficit in the third period for their fourth victory in five games.
Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole scored for the Canadiens, while Carey Price made 30 saves.
JETS 5, LIGHTNING 2
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Evander Kane, Tim Stapleton and Dustin Byfuglien each had a goal and an assist as the Jets ended a five-game losing streak with a win over Tampa Bay.
Ondrej Pavelec made 30 saves for Winnipeg, which got just their third home win of the season. Mark Flood and Andrew Ladd also scored for the Jets.
Martin St Louis and Steve Stamkos had goals for Tampa Bay, which was 0 for 6 on the power play.
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