Danny Briere Wins Flyers All-Star Bragging Rights Over Claude Giroux
RALEIGH, N.C. – When Claude Giroux scored 5 minutes and 41 seconds into Sunday afternoon’s NHL All-Star Game, Flyers teammate Danny Briere knew he had to answer back before going home.
He did that and more, scoring two goals to help Team Lidstrom beat Team Staal 11-10 at RBC Center and give Briere bragging rights for the weekend over his housemate. Both Flyers had nice games, as Giroux had his first All-Star Game goal and added an assist.
“I had to find a way to get back at him,” Briere said. “But overall it was fun to see. We both scored, the right team won the game, so everybody’s happy – maybe except him.”
Giroux was all smiles despite the loss. He and his teammates in the home locker room spent time after the game signing each other’s jerseys to commemorate the event. In his first All-Star Game, Giroux played with David Backes and former Flyer Patrick Sharp, who ultimately won the MVP award.
“It was a lot of fun. I really wanted to enjoy myself and I was playing with two good players,” Giroux said. “It was exciting, and it’s too bad we lost but at the same time it was a good experience.”
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette got to see the performances up-close as he was a co-coach of Team Lidstrom along with the Canucks’ Alain Vigneault. Relaxed behind the bench, Laviolette could enjoy what Briere and Giroux did.
“I thought Danny played well and G played well. They represented us very well,” Laviolette said. “I’m proud of both of them.”
Giroux picked up his goal and assist in just 13:16, the least amount of ice time as any All-Star. But he made the most of it and contributed to Sharp’s MVP performance in a losing effort. Giroux said he accomplished his goal of soaking in the experience.
“Hopefully he uses that to his advantage and realizes that he’s one of the best players in the NHL,” Briere said. “We all saw him there, he was confident, he made some plays.”
So did Briere, who beat the Canadiens’ Carey Price high glove side to give Team Lidstrom its first lead at 7-6 in the second period and then tied the score at 8-8 by flicking one past the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist.
Briere was the All-Star Game MVP in 2007, but he said he wasn’t worried about vying hard for the hardware.
“I wasn’t thinking about the MVP stuff, but I certainly thought if I had a chance to shoot it if I’m in front of the net, I’m gonna try to go for the hat trick,” Briere said. “I had a couple chances. That’s all you can ask for. I had my chances, couldn’t connect, but overall it was still fun.”
For all three Flyers representatives, it was fun for much more than just the game. Briere and Laviolette’s children all played out on the ice after the game, and Briere’s sons each took a turn spending time on the Team Lidstrom bench with Laviolette.
Briere has said since the moment he was picked to go to the All-Star Game that this weekend was about his sons – Caelan, Carson and Cameron.
“I was coming here trying to enjoy it with them, to share it with them,” Briere said. “That’s what I’ll remember most about this experience.”
As for bragging rights in the house Briere, his sons and Giroux share, the teammates had different perspectives on it.
“I won the skills competition, so I think we’re even,” Giroux said, referencing Team Staal’s 33-22 victory Saturday night.
Not so fast, Briere said.
“He got the skills competition on his side,” Briere said, “but at the end of the day, the game was the most important part.”
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