Claude Giroux scored the game winner 1:59 into overtime to cap a wild third period comeback as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in an NHL outdoor game on Saturday.
Giroux, who has spent his entire career with Philadelphia, was playing in his 800th NHL game and he made sure there was a celebration at the end in front of the crowd of 69,600 at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Flyers’ captain went one on one with Pittsburgh defenceman Justin Schultz, balanced on one skate, and then shifted to the right and threaded a low shot between the legs of Penguins goaltender Matt Murray.
Giroux’s winner, in steady rain, finished off a frenzied rally by the Flyers who were down 3-1 late in the third period.
“I was able get a step on the defenceman and sneak it five hole,” said Canadian Giroux. “With the conditions and us being down 3-1, we did a good job of keeping on the pressure.
“I’ve got goose bumps right now. The intensity in here is unbelievable.”
The game, played at the home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, featured some of the worst weather for an NHL outdoor series game because of cool temperatures, rain and blowing winds.
Giroux’s 18th goal of the season followed a pair of goals by James van Riemsdyk and Jakub Voracek that were both scored after the Flyers had pulled their goaltender Brian Elliott for an extra attacker.
With Elliott sitting on the bench, Van Riemsdyk found a loose puck in the Penguins’ crease and tapped it home with 3:01 left in the third to get the Flyers to within a goal. Czech forward Voracek scored with just 19 seconds left in regulation on a bad angle shot that squeezed through the legs of Murray to tie it 3-3 and force overtime.
Sean Couturier also scored in the first period for the Flyers, who ended a modest two-game losing skid.
The game was tied 1-1 at the end of the first and the Penguins led 2-1 going into the third. Sidney Crosby, Schultz and Evgeni Malkin scored goals for Pittsburgh, who were coming off a disappointing 4-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks. 

McDavid-less Oilers 
hold off Ducks
The Edmonton Oilers earned a clutch win without superstar captain Connor McDavid, holding on for a 2-1 home-ice victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.
Edmonton goalie Mikko Koskinen made 33 saves, including three during a late Anaheim power play, to backstop his squad to a second consecutive victory. Edmonton won two straight home games for the first time in more than two months.
McDavid served the first half of a two-game suspension handed down for a check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy last game.
Edmonton’s Josh Currie opened the scoring with four minutes remaining in the first period with his first NHL goal. Currie, the 26-year-old who made his NHL debut earlier in the week, ensured his third big league game would be one to remember when he pounced on a loose puck and buried the rebound for his marker.
Sam Gagner doubled Edmonton’s lead 57 seconds into the second period with his second goal in as many outings. Gagner was parked in the slot when he made a nifty deflection of Leon Draisaitl’s shot for the eventual game-winning goal. With his assist, Draisaitl has collected four goals and four helpers in a six-game point streak.
Carter Rowney gave the visitors a much-needed jolt of life when he put them on the board at the 11:43 mark of the middle frame. After a turnover by the Oilers, Nick Ritchie fed Rowney in front of the net, and the rookie netted his fourth NHL goal.
Unfortunately, Rowney left the game later in the frame when he was hit in the head by a puck shot by a teammate.
The Ducks believed they tied the game with 45 seconds left on the clock, but it was immediately disallowed because Adam Henrique made contact with Koskinen before the puck went into the net.
Kevin Boyle stopped 19 shots for the Ducks, who have lost two straight. Anaheim was also without its captain as Ryan Getzlaf missed the game due to a lower-body injury.