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Giroux, Flyers erase deficit, beat Blackhawks 3-2 in OT

Matt Read, Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier

Philadelphia Flyers’ Mattt Read, center, celebrates his goal along with teammates Sean Couturier, left, and Claude Giroux during the second period of an NHL hockey game against against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday, March 15, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

AP

After Chicago took a 2-0 lead a little more than four minutes into Tuesday’s game, it looked like the Blackhawks might be in for an easy win at the expense of former goalie Ray Emery. Instead, it seemed to prove that the 2013-14 Philadelphia Flyers might just work best when their backs are against the wall.

They’ve generated a reputation for third-period comebacks, yet they didn’t wait so long on Tuesday, as Scott Hartnell scored twice to tie things up in the first period. Neither team scored in the second or third, but Claude Giroux found the net in the waning moments of OT to give the Flyers their third win in a row.

Those three wins should really warm the hearts of Flyers fans, too, as they beat their cross-state rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins twice this past weekend and they beat one of the best teams in the NHL tonight. As of this writing, the Penguins have 94 standings points while Chicago is right behind them with 93, so this is the kind of run that could prove inspiring for Philly.

The Flyers began a four-game homestand with this win, and it behooves them to keep this momentum going. Overall, they play six of their next eight games at Wells Fargo Center, giving them a solid chance to cement their spot in the postseason. Even after showing some serious resiliency after an awful start to the season, a bad finish could doom this turnaround.

It won’t be easy, yet this team seems to thrive on challenges, anyway.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins