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Claude Giroux's return sparks Flyers to win over Rangers

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Olive Tapenade & Vinho Verde | SaltWire

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Erik Gustafsson and Shayne Gostisbehere each had one goal and one assist to lift the host Philadelphia Flyers past the New York Rangers 4-3 on Wednesday.

James van Riemsdyk and Kevin Hayes also scored a goal apiece for the Flyers, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Captain Claude Giroux returned from the COVID-19 list and notched three assists in his first action in 17 days. Giroux was active throughout and managed eight shots.

Flyers goaltender Brian Elliott stopped 24 shots.

The short-handed Flyers were still without the likes of Jakub Voracek, Scott Laughton, Travis Konecny and Oskar Lindblom on the coronavirus list. But they managed a season-high 39 shots on goal after entering the game ranking last in the NHL with 23.1 per game.

Chris Kreider scored all three goals for the Rangers for his third career hat trick and first since Dec. 31, 2016.

Mika Zibanejad, who has been in a scoring slump, added two assists.

New York was without standout Artemi Panarin, who's taking a leave of absence after a report surfaced in a Russian newspaper accusing him of allegedly assaulting a woman in 2011 in Latvia.

Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin was stellar with 35 saves in defeat, stopping several high-pressure scoring chances.

The Flyers jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Gustafsson fired a slap shot through traffic at 7:48 of the first period for his first as a Flyer.

Kreider quickly tied the game at 1 for the Rangers by tapping home a loose puck in front on the power play at 9:32.

The Flyers went back ahead 2-1 at 15:31 of the first when Gostisbehere scored on the power play on a one-timer.

Philadelphia extended its advantage to 3-1 at 4:05 of the second when van Riemsdyk connected on the power play off a slick cross-ice pass from Joel Farabee.

Kreider's second power-play goal nearly four minutes later, shortly after the Rangers killed off a 5-on-3 man advantage, pulled the Rangers within 3-2.

Hayes scored from a difficult angle on the short side for a 4-2 Philadelphia lead at 14:37 of the second.

Kreider recorded his hat trick at 3:27 of the third as he picked up the bouncing puck off the post and scored to close New York within 4-3.

The Rangers pulled Shesterkin for an extra skater with 2:02 remaining and created several solid scoring chances. But they were unable to capitalize.

--Field Level Media

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