Giroux Hurt During Carolina Loss, Injury Not Considered Serious

Report From Philadelphia Flyers

* Chris Vandevelde scored the third NHL goal of his career and second this season… He now has six points (2g-4a) in 28 games this season.

* Vincent Lecavalier assisted on Vandevelde’s goal and now has five points (4g-1a) in the seven games of this road trip so far.

* Cam Ward held the Flyers to one goal for just the third time in 20 career appearances against them – he has never shut out the Flyers… Ward improved his career record vs. Philadelphia to 6-10-0-3.

* Claude Giroux left the game in the third period with a lower-body injury. He is probable for tomorrow’s game at New Jersey

* The Flyers conclude their eight-game road swing tomorrow night when they visit New Jersey (7 PM, CSN, 97.5 FM).

GAME RECAP

The Philadelphia Flyers were defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 at PNC Arena on Friday, but that wasn’t their biggest loss.

Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux, who is among the NHL scoring leaders with 43 points, sustained a lower-leg injury about 4:45 into the third period and did not return. The Flyers said he is probable to play Saturday at the New Jersey Devils.

Giroux and Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk were in the corner of the Hurricanes zone when Faulk’s skate made contact with the back of Giroux’s left leg. Giroux’s leg was bleeding and he was helped off the ice by the trainers. He did not put any weight on the leg.

The Flyers (14-17-7) were trailing 2-0 when Giroux was injured.

The Hurricanes (11-23-4) took the lead at 13:41 of the first period when Brad Malone scored on a rush that began with a turnover in the defensive end. Flyers defenseman Mark Streit had the puck stolen from him by forward Zach Boychuk, who passed to Malone, and Malone skated from his blue line the length of the ice. He scored from inside the right circle on a snap shot over Steve Mason‘s right shoulder.

Carolina took a 2-0 lead 41 seconds into the second period. Jordan Staal took a shot from in tight which went off the post, and the Flyers couldn’t clear the puck. Faulk took a shot from inside the right point that Mason saved, but he couldn’t control the rebound, which was put in by Eric Staal.

Flyers center Chris Vandevelde made it 2-1 in the third period at 8:45 after wing Vinny Lecavalier did most of the work setting it up. Defenseman Mark Streit sent an outlet pass to Lecavalier, who weaved his way through the Carolina defense and set up Vandevelde with a drop pass at the left point. Vandevelde took a snap shot that beat Ward over his glove.

Carolina outshot Philadelphia 26-21, including 12-4 in the first period.

The loss was the fourth straight for the Flyers, who are 3-3-1 on an eight-game road trip that ends Saturday.

The Hurricanes ended a three-game losing streak and have won three of their past 14 games (3-10-1).