Flyers 4, Stars 1
Claude Giroux collected a goal and three assists in his return from a four-game absence due to concussion-like symptoms as the Philadelphia Flyers skated to a 4-1 road triumph over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.
With his third four-point game of the season, Giroux regained sole possession of the NHL's points lead after scoring 8 1/2 minutes into the first period. The 23-year-old Giroux now has 43 points on the campaign.
Jaromir Jagr moved past Brendan Shanahan with his 657th career goal and Wayne Simmonds tallied for the sixth time in seven games for Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia.
Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 30 shots to improve to 7-2-1 on the season for the Flyers, who moved past the idle Boston Bruins for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
After Michael Ryder netted his third goal in as many contests just 56 seconds into Wednesday's game, Giroux answered at the 8:30 mark. Jagr used his long reach to gain control of the puck and wrist a shot on net. Rookie Richard Bachman made the save, but Giroux alertly cleaned up the rebound.
Simmonds gave Philadelphia a 2-1 advantage after Vernon Fiddler needlessly took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after giving Bobrovsky a snow shower. Defenseman Kimmo Timonen's shot from the point was redirected by Simmonds and sailed between the pads of Bachman for his 50th career goal.
Jagr doubled the advantage eight minutes into the second period after a brilliant give-and-go with Giroux on an odd-man rush. Giroux capped the scoring after feeding defenseman Andrej Meszaros for his fourth goal of the season.