Cleary Scores in Return but Red Wings Fall to Flyers

Danny Cleary scored in his first game back after missing three with a groin injury but it wasn’t enough for the Detroit Red Wings, who played an uninspired game in losing to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Despite the loss, the Red Wings clinched their 19th consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Calgary Flames lost to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Daniel Carcillo scored just 17 seconds into the game, setting the tone for the remainder of the afternoon.

Carcillo’s wrister from the left faceoff circle broke through Chris Osgood’s glove and into the top corner of the net, giving the Flyers the lead on the game’s first shot.

Kimmo Timmonen made it 2-0 at 7:16, beating Osgood from the slot on a four-on-two rush.

Cleary got the Red Wings on the board with 5:52 left in the first, banging home his own rebound from the edge of the crease.

Just 2:15 later, Darren Helm tied things up swatting a backhand chance past Philadelphia goalie Brian Boucher off the rebound of a Brian Rafalski shot.

Claude Giroux restored the Flyers’ lead only 53 seconds into the second period, beating Osgood when he was left all alone in the slot.

Aaron Asham scored a similar goal with 2:24 left in the period, tipping home a chance from the front of the net after sneaking in behind the defense.

Pavel Datsyuk scored 2:22 into the third period, rifling a shot from the top of the left circle past Boucher, but the Red Wings would not get a fourth goal to tie the game.

Osgood stopped 21 of 25 shots in his first appearance since January. Boucher made 31 saves on 34 Detroit shots.

Neither team scored a power play goal. The Red Wings had three chances with the extra attacker while the Flyers had two.