Flyers 4, Red Wings 3

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -All season, the Philadelphia Flyers have shown flashes of brilliance mixed with bouts of inconsistency.

For one day at least, the brilliance shined through at the best possible time.

Claude Giroux and Arron Asham scored second-period goals, Kimmo Timonen added a goal and an assist, and the Flyers beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Sunday afternoon.

"We were skating, hitting, playing physical," said Philadelphia defenseman Chris Pronger. "When we play like that, we can be successful."

Daniel Carcillo also scored for the Flyers, who had slipped to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 1-6-1 stretch over their previous eight games. Brian Boucher made 31 saves for Philadelphia, which began the day tied with the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot in the East.

"We all know what's at stake now," Carcillo said. "We need to win out to get in. We knew it was a huge game."

Despite goals from Dan Cleary, Darren Helm and Pavel Datsyuk, the Red Wings lost in regulation for the first time in 13 games. The defeat clinched the Central Division title for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Chris Osgood, making his first start in goal since Jan. 27, had 21 saves for Detroit.

"In that second period, I thought they were much more desperate than we were," said Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who felt the team "hung (Osgood) out to dry" with the way it played defensively.

In a game that had significant playoff implications for both teams, the Flyers got off to a sizzling start.

Carcillo opened the scoring just 17 seconds into the game with his 12th goal of the season. Following a turnover in the neutral zone, he skated in and snapped a wrister that went off Osgood's glove and into the net.

Timonen made it 2-0 seven minutes later, but the Red Wings answered with a pair of goals in a three-minute stretch. Cleary deposited a loose puck in front of the net for his 14th goal before Helm tied it on a rebound for his 11th.

Giroux gave the Flyers a 3-2 lead just 53 seconds into the second period, blasting a loose puck past Osgood. It was Giroux's 15th goal of the season, but his first in 14 games.

Asham made it 4-2 late in the second period, redirecting a pass from Timonen past a helpless Osgood.

"We didn't win the game, but for me it was a step in the right direction in getting ready for the playoffs," said Osgood, who conceded that he was rusty in the first period but felt "great" thereafter.

Coach Mike Babcock, who started rookie Jimmy Howard in each of Detroit's previous 25 games, was content with Osgood's performance following the long layoff.

"We would have liked to get a win for him, but we didn't get it done," Babcock said.

Datsyuk scored his 27th goal early in the third period, but Detroit could not get the equalizer past Boucher. One of five goalies to play for Philadelphia this season, Boucher had recorded only one victory in his previous seven starts.

"This was a big one to keep us going," he said.

With their playoff lives on the line, the Flyers spent the final minute diving in front of shots, trying to keep the puck out of the net at all costs.

"It felt good to beat a team like Detroit," said Philadelphia winger Ian Laperriere. "That's the way we need to play every night. ... We have to win the rest of the way, but it's good to see we can play like that."

NOTES: The Red Wings have not won in Philadelphia since Jan. 25, 1997, a stretch of six games. ... Jimmy Howard's streak of 25 consecutive games started was the longest by a Red Wings goaltender since Tim Cheveldae started 29 in a row in 1991-92. ... With two assists, Flyers RW Ian Laperriere notched his first multipoint game since Jan. 12. Timonen recorded his first multipoint effort since Dec. 14. ... Carcillo had missed the previous two games due to a suspension for high-sticking the Devils' David Clarkson on March 28. ... The Red Wings killed off all three Flyers power plays and have now allowed just three goals in their last 45 short-handed opportunities.