While the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t off to a great start, Claude Giroux is. The forward has two goals and 11 assists en route to a 10 game point streak.
With an assist on the @NHLFlyers' OT winner, @28CGiroux extended his career-long point streak to 10 games (2-11–13). pic.twitter.com/0KYSBD8325
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 3, 2016
Claude Giroux Off To Hot Start
Since the 2011-12, Giroux leads the league in points with 380, eight ahead of Patrick Kane. His 11 assists on the season currently lead the NHL while his 13 points are tied for first. The 11 game point streak is also the longest active streak in the league. Along with the points, it’s clear to see that Giroux is feeling more comfortable out on the ice.
Giroux didn’t score his first goal until October 29th, but that wasn’t the only thing not clicking for the captain early on. He was seeing more pucks go into his own net instead of the opposing net. The forward commented on his defensive play eight games into the season.
“It’s not about the stats,” he said. “I think the way I play defensively can be better. Defensively, I can be a little more creative. I just need to relax a little bit more out there . . . and enjoy the game a little more.”
Around the locker room, Giroux is known as a guy who can be hard on himself at times. But looking at the score sheet, it’s safe to say that he is enjoying the game more and more.
“I think ‘G’ is always consistent, but sometimes he’s hard on himself,’’ Wayne Simmonds said. “He still does things that other people don’t see that contribute, whether (or not) he’s scoring goals.’
Comeback Kids
The Flyers will need Giroux to keep things going as the team has started 5-5-1 on the season. It’s safe to say that key absences of players like Michael Raffl and Michael Del Zotto has played a part.
It can also be said that having to play comeback kids in a majority of their games has also taken its toll on the team. The team has had to overcome a deficit of at least two goals in seven of their 11 games this season.
7 times they have overcome a deficit of 2 goals or more and tied a game or taken a lead. They are 3-3-1 in those games. https://t.co/CCvZcfp5CO
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) November 3, 2016
The Flyers recent overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings was another game in which the Flyers had to comeback. It looked like it was going to be an easy win for the Wings, but the Flyers were able to push it to overtime. Jake Voracek would get the game-winner off a pass on a 2-on-1 from Giroux.
“It’s nice to come back and win this game, but we have to stop doing this because it is getting old,” Giroux said.
It’s too early in the season for the Flyers to start hitting the panic button, but the team knows it cannot continue to fall behind in games. Being outscored 13-4 in first periods is also a trend the team can not afford to continue.
However, with players like Giroux contributing in multiple ways on the ice, the Flyers have a good chance of breaking out of their funk sooner rather than later.
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