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SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Philadelphia Flyers are ready for the playoffs. Claude Giroux scored two goals and the Flyers clinched a Stanley Cup playoff berth by beating the Florida Panthers 5-2 on Tuesday. Tye McGinn, Sean Couturier and Vincent Lecavalier also scored for the Flyers and Steve Mason made 38 saves. The Flyers won their second consecutive game after losing the four previous games and after a 1-7 start to the season, making the playoffs is a big relief. "From the start we got, from the first (eight) games, weve got to be proud of what weve done," Lecavalier said. "Obviously we have to finish strong and make sure that were ready and confident for that first round." Jonathan Huberdeau and Erik Gudbranson scored goals for Florida and Dan Ellis stopped 22 shots. Ellis substituted for Roberto Luongo, a late scratch with an upper-body injury. After the game, Panthers coach Peter Horachek said Luongos injury was muscular soreness and not serious. The Panthers didnt go easily. Trailing 4-0, they scored two goals early in the third period to close to 4-2 and make the Flyers nervous. "We kind of took our foot off the gas," Giroux said. "We only have three games to kind of work on our game and be ready for the playoffs." The Flyers scored four goals in the second period, including three on their first four shots. The Flyers took a 1-0 lead when Lecavalier found a loose puck in the slot and wristed it between Ellis pads at 2:02 for his 20th goal of the season. The Flyers have seven 20-goal scorers. Philadelphia went ahead 2-0 when Giroux fired a shot from the top of the right circle that got cleanly by Ellis at 6:29. The Flyers stretched their lead to 3-0 a few minutes later on Girouxs second goal. Mark Streit dropped a pass to Giroux in the slot and his wrist shot beat Ellis at 8:50. "Just a couple of shots where I?was able to get open and shoot it on net," Giroux said. "Obviously those goals were huge for us to get the lead." Philadelphia went ahead 4-0 with 4:57 left in the second when Couturier wristed in a rebound from the right side. It was his first goal in 18 games. The Panthers have lost six of their past seven games and Ellis has lost all five starts with the Panthers since being acquired from Dallas on March 5. "It was a good start (in the first) but in the second period I just let in four bad goals," Ellis said. "I take responsibility for that loss. ... I cant let two pucks go right through me." Gudbranson scored 1:14 into the third when he fired a shot from just inside the blue line that got past Mason to make the score 4-1. Huberdeau pulled the Panthers to 4-2 when he poked the puck between Masons pads at 5:38 of the third. It was the first goal for Huberdeau since Jan. 20 at Pittsburgh, a span of 19 games. "Obviously, we made it closer than it should have been," said Flyers coach Craig Berube, who was happy the team clinched a spot in the playoffs. "They went through a lot and they battled hard all year. Theyre a good group of guys, good character, and they deserve a lot of credit for making the playoffs." The Flyers made it 5-2 when McGinn took a pass from Lecavalier from behind the net and poked the puck past Ellis with 4:54 left in the third. NOTES: Flyers R Steve Downie returned to the lineup after missing eight games with an upper-body injury. ... Huberdeau returned after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. ... The Panthers recalled centre Drew Shore from AHL San Antonio and reassigned forward Bobby Butler to the Rampage. Luis Aparicio Jersey . But this time, the Gunners weathered the storm. Arsene Wengers team was on the ropes in the early stages of a lively FA Cup tie, until Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a goal against the run of the play. Ozzie Guillen Jersey . Acclaimed by world football leaders but held in contempt by many football fans. Blatter should arrive at the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo to watch host Brazil play Croatia confident that this tournament -- his fifth as president -- wont be his last leading the worlds favourite sport. http://www.whitesoxteamshop.com/Customized/. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam announced the move with Young on Monday during a speech at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon. Robin Ventura Jersey .ca contributor Grant McCagg provides a look at some risers and fallers on the prospect watch. Chris Beck Jersey . -- Louisville backup quarterback Reggie Bonnafon ran for two touchdowns and passed for another and the No.HOUSTON - The Texans have already tripled their win total from last years 2-14 season and the rest of their schedule includes two games against the 2-10 Jaguars.Yes, the playoffs are being discussed in Houston.Youve got to treat it week to week and focus on each game individually, but as of right now every single game is a playoff, centre Chris Myers said. Thats the way it is. Weve got to be able to win every single game and other things will take care of themselves.Myers said it would be silly to say that dont think about the possibility of making the post-season for the third time in franchise history.The playoffs are always on your mind, Myers said. Thats the overall goal in the NFL is to make the playoffs and get to that big game.Houstons 45-21 win over Tennessee on Sunday got the Texans to 6-6 and leaves them second in the AFC South division behind the Colts (8-4). The Texans travel to Jacksonville on Sunday and end the regular-season at home against the Jaguars. They also travel to Indianapolis and host the Ravens in their last four games.But first they have to deal with the Jaguars, who rallied from a 21-point deficit on Sunday for a win over the Giants. After seeing what they did last week, theres no way the Texans will be looking past Jacksonville.I dont care what their record is, Houston coach Bill OBrien said. This team is a talented team, well coached. I have a lot of respect for Gus Bradley and the way he coaches, the energy that he brings to their team. Theyre playing very hard.The Texans scored the most points in franchise history last week as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick returned to the starting lineup to throw a career-high and franchise-record six touchdown passes. His performance came after two weeks on the bench and earned the veteran AFC offensive player of the week honours. Its the first time a Houston player has won the honour on offence since Matt Schaub in 2012.This week, theyll look to repeat that performance and try to win consecutive games for the first time since the first two weeks of the season.Its been an inconsiistent year in terms of overall performance and being able to move the ball on a consistent basis, Myers said.dddddddddddd But when were on were on and were pretty strong. As long as we can keep building on it and keep growing as an offence and building that cohesiveness I think were going to be all right.Houstons success against the Titans was helped by a defence that is tied for second in the NFL with a plus-11 turnover margin. Linebacker Brian Cushing said a variety of things factor in to forcing turnovers.I just think its aggressive play, good play calling and guys really having an emphasis of getting the ball back for our offence, Cushing said. I think those things combined have helped things turn out well for us.Houston had three interceptions on Sunday and J.J. Watt forced and recovered a fumble for another turnover. He likes that so many different people have been getting in on the turnover action.I think its one of those things that is contagious, guys making plays at all different positions, Watt said. Its pretty neat when everyone gets involved. I think one of the most fun parts about it is that you never know where its going to come from.The group could get a boost this week with the return of starting cornerback Kareem Jackson, who missed the last three games with a knee injury.He was out there (Wednesday) and he looked OK, OBrien said.He said his chances of playing Sunday are looking better but that hes still day to day.NOTES: Top overall pick Jadeveon Clowney visited Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Florida on Wednesday to have his surgically repaired right knee evaluated. OBrien said when he returns to Houston team officials and doctors will meet to discuss the findings and determine what the next step is for the outside linebacker. Clowney was injured in Week 1 and had arthroscopic surgery on Sept. 8. He has played three games since then, but has never completely recovered from the procedure and said last week that hes still in a lot of pain.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '