The Flyers enter todays afternoon contest against the Bruins on a 9-game losing streak. They look to end that streak against the Bruins. The Bruins enter today coming off a 3-game home–stand, ending with a 3-2 victory over the Lightning. They look to keep how there improved play on the road over the past few games.
Flyers Lineup
Giroux – Couturier – Voracek
Weal – Patrick – Simmonds
Rafll – Filppula – Konecny
Lehtera – Laughton – Weise
Provorov – MacDonald
Gostisbehere – Hagg
Sanheim – Manning
Starter – Elliott
Backup – Neuvirth
Scratches
20 – Leier
39 – Alt
3 – Gudas (Suspended)
1st Period Notes…
The Flyers couldn’t have started any better. Just like Tuesday, they started hot from puck drop. However, today wasn’t a goal. An early powerplay after Couturier had a full head of steam through center. To halt him, Bruins David Pastrnak held him and brought him down.
However, with great pressure, the Flyers couldn’t capitalize on a couple net-mouth scrambles. Bruins kill it off.
Then, after the Bruins killed it, we actually got some good back and forth hockey. The Flyers have been very minimal lately on that front but it came in an abundance today.
With about 11:30 remaining in the 1st, Wayne Simmonds got into a scrum with Bruins Kevan Miller. This lead to a great fight where Simmonds pounded Miller with a flurry of lefts until Simmonds lost his balance and fell over. Simmonds won that one.
But it wasn’t the Flyers that got the energy boost from the fight. It was the Bruins. After a 4 on 2 rush through center, Flyers Brian Elliott had to come up big on his goal line. Still 0-0.
Brian Elliott with a great desperation save on the goal line! pic.twitter.com/va7zcThEqT
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 2, 2017
However, the Flyers couldn’t hold up to the Bruins pressure. Off a bad turnover in the offensive zone by Nolan Patrick, Bruins Ryan Spooner got away on a break-away and beat Elliott 5-hole. 1-0 Bruins.
About a minute later, Ivan Provorov was called for an illegal check to the head penalty that has many Flyers fans confused. It was in similar fashion to Big Buf’s hit on Weal in Winnipeg. his was not a penalty, Marchand had his head down and Provorov finished him. You be the judge.
Provorov's hit on Brad Marchand pic.twitter.com/2CZCKwUI97
— Murph (@2Murphy8) December 2, 2017
The Flyers killed off the Bruins powerplay and the period ended 1-0 Bruins.
Scoring
5:30 Bruins Ryan Spooner Assisted by Noel Acciari
Penalties
19:10 Bruins David Pastrnak 2 mins Holding
11:31 Flyers Wayne Simmonds 5 mins Fighting
11:31 Bruins Kevan Miller 5 mins Fighting
4:23 Flyers Ivan Provorov 2 mins Illegal Check to the Head
Shots
Flyers – 8
Bruins – 15
2nd Period Notes…
After a poor end to the 1st period, the Flyers came out roaring and were rewarded with a powerplay after Kevan Miller held a Flyers along the boards.
However, again with the most unbalanced refereeing, the first play of the Flyers powerplay should have been a penalty. Flyers Shayne Gostisbehere was trying to keep the puck in at the point and was leveled directly to his head. Almost exactly similar to the penalty to Provorov in the 1st. Bruins killed it off easily after because Flyers couldn’t get set up back in the zone.
Brad Marchand leaves his feet to hit Shayne Gostisbehere up high. pic.twitter.com/pqEA7LQ5Rj
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 2, 2017
Then, with 13:30 left in the 2nd, instead of hitting a Flyer for a breakout, rookie Robert Hagg iced the puck. That would turn out to be a very bad and rookie decision as the Bruins put out their top line against a tired Flyers 2nd line and scored. 2-0 Bruins
About 3 minutes later, the Flyers again iced the puck. This time with the Flyers 4th line on an extended shift. The Bruins did it again. Their top line scored easily and made it 3-0.
Travis Konecny pulled off for a break-away with 6:40 left in the 2nd but he was easily stopped by Rask. Konecny needs to deke once or twice. He shoots way to much, becoming easy for NHL goalies to read.
However from that rush, the Flyers got a powerplay. But about 40 seconds in, Marchand was tapped by Gostisbehere on a rush and he went down like he got hit by a truck. Game to 4v4.
Gostisbehere didn’t let that hold him down. Right out of the box, Ghost took the puck up through center and drew a penalty. Flyers back to the powerplay.
And dare I say it, but the refereeing gets worse. About 30 seconds into the powerplay, Giroux scored off a snipe from the left dot. But it wouldn’t last as the Bruins challenged for goalie interference and somehow won? I don’t know you be the judge. I can’t find it can you?
Claude Giroux, the Ginger Beard Man scores! pic.twitter.com/spVxzpKPBd
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) December 2, 2017
Period ends 3-0 Bruins.
Scoring
13:22 Bruins David Pastrnak Assisted by Brad Marchand
9:16 Bruins Brad Marchand Assisted by Charlie McAvoy
Penalties
17:52 Bruins Kevan Miller 2 mins Holding
5:21 Zdeno Chara 2 mins Hooking
4:24 Flyers Shayne Gostisbehere 2 mis Cross-Checking
1:38 Bruins Charlie McAvoy 2 mins Tripping
Shots (Total)
Flyers – 10 (18)
Bruins – 8 (23)
3rd Period Notes…
Well, I can put the exact same 3rd period recap here from Tuesday’s game. The Flyers lacked any luster in the 3rd. They had multiple opportunities but nothing to show for it. They did have 2 powerplays, however the best chance on either was a Bruins 2-on-1 that went on off a Flyer.
To cap it all off, the Flyers pulled the goalie with about 3 minutes to play and were on the powerplay. They generated just 2 shots and had no urgency.
Game ends 3-0 Bruins
Scoring
None
Penalties
6:14 Bruins Charlie McAvoy 2 mins High Sticking
3:07 Bruins David Krejci 2 mins High Sticking
Shots (Total)
Flyers – 10 (28)
Bruins – 4 (27)
Result – Flyers 0 – Bruins 3, Loss
Record – 8 – 11 – 7
Next Game – 12 / 4 Calgary Flames, Calgary Alberta Canada
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
