Flyers return home, down Ducks

PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers returned home Tuesday limping from a woeful road trip.

They got relief in the form of Carter Hart who made 40 saves in a 4-1 win over the visiting Anaheim Ducks.

Goalie John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks, David Kase #72 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Michael Del Zotto #44 of the Anaheim Ducks

It was his one-year anniversary of being recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL.

“I didn’t even realize it,” Hart said. “It’s gone by really quick, that’s for sure. … It was a must-win game. We needed to get things turned around, and we did that tonight.”

Rickard Rakell scored the Ducks lone goal.

“Some tough breakdowns,” Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg said. “I think we’re doing some good stuff out there. Over the course of 60 minutes, we didn’t play good enough. Any time you score one goal, it’s going to be tough to win.”

Claude Giroux, David Kase and Jakub Voracek scored for the Flyers.

“That save he (Hart) made on (Ryan) Getzlaf when he came in, that’s a [heck] of a stop, and it’s the kind of save that gives the guys a little motivation to try to step it up a little bit more,” Giroux said. “He made the saves tonight that we needed.”

Sean Couturier added an empty-net goal to seal it.

“I’m happy we win tonight against him and I’m the winner in my family,” the Flyers’ Kase said of playing against his brother, Ondrej Kase.

Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers mades a pad save.

[WATCH: ALL Ducks vs. Flyers highlights]

John Gibson made 27 saves in the loss.

“When we were playing together, we were playing very well,” Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins said. “We were getting our chances, we weren’t playing in our zone, and then we would turn the puck back or we try to be guys individually, and you can’t win in this league by yourself.”

Goalie John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks, David Kase #72 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Michael Del Zotto #44 of the Anaheim Ducks

Max Comtois #53 of the Anaheim Ducks carries the puck towards Goalie Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers

Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers scores the first goal of the game against Goalie John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks

Shayne Gostisbehere #53 of the Philadelphia Flyers, defends against Sam Steel #34 of the Anaheim Ducks as Flyers Goalie Carter Hart #79 looks to the point for the shot.