Flyers Fall to Leafs But Don’t Lose Ground

Report From Philadelphia Flyers

* Claude Giroux had a two-point night with a goal and an assist. It’s the first time since November 26 the Flyers have lost a game in which Giroux had multiple points. They had won six in a row under those circumstances.

* The Flyers outshot the Maple Leafs 49-17, a shot differential of plus-32. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the largest positive shot differential for the Flyers in a loss since November 25, 1998 when they outshot the New York Islanders 46-14 and lost 4-2 at Nassau Coliseum.

* The 49 shots are the most the Flyers have had in a regulation loss since March 26, 1991 when they took 49 shots in a 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh at the Spectrum. The last time this happened on the road also was against Toronto, on February 13, 1988, when they took 53 shots in a 7-4 loss at Maple Leaf Gardens.

* Mark Streit was credited with a career-high 10 shots on goal. His previous career high was seven, done twice, most recently on March 28, 2013 for the Islanders against the Flyers – The last Flyers defenseman to record 10 or more shots on goal in a regulation game was Garry Galley, who recorded 10 shots in a 4-3 win over the Minnesota North Stars at the Spectrum.

* Total shot attempts were 89-37 in favor of the Flyers.

* The Flyers return home to host the New York Rangers on Saturday night (8pm, NBC, 97.5 The Fanatic).

GAME RECAP

TORONTO — Goaltender Jonathan Bernier made 47 saves, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 at Air Canada Centre on Thursday.

The Flyers outshot the Maple Leafs 49-17.

Toronto (25-31-5) has won two in a row; Philadelphia (26-25-11) has lost two in a row.

The Flyers outshot the Maple Leafs 16-7 in the first period, but Toronto held a 1-0 lead on Phil Kessel’s 23rd goal of the season with 2:25 remaining. Kessel outraced Philadelphia defenseman Nicklas Grossmann for a loose puck and then beat goaltender Rob Zepp with a 20-foot snap shot.

Tyler Bozak made it 2-0 at 5:33 of the second period when he broke in alone and his shot went past Zepp, hit the crossbar and went in. Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk made a blue line to blue line pass to Bozak, who managed to sneak quietly behind the Flyers defense.

The goal came on Toronto’s eighth shot, one of two the Maple Leafs took in the second period. The Flyers responded by replacing Zepp with Steve Mason.

The Flyers led 31-9 in shots after two periods.

Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf returned to the lineup after missing 12 games with a hand injury and scored a power-play goal 1:22 into the third period. The shot from the right point was his third goal of the season.

Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux made it 3-1 at 11:10 of the third with a one-timer past Bernier. The goal, on a power play, was his 18th of the season.

Brayden Schenn scored his 12th of the season 3:17 later on a power play on a rebound to make 3-2.

Prior to the game, the Maple Leafs announced they traded veteran right wing David Clarkson to the Columbus Blue Jackets for injured forward Nathan Horton.