In a game plagued by bad calls and lucky bounces, the Flyers suffered another crushing loss to the Bruins in Boston.
After scoring first, the Flyers were on the wrong end of two poor penalty calls and two Bruins goals late in the 1st period. The second goal coming off a sure Bruins penalty. Simmonds was tripped entering the offensive zone, no call by the referees, and the Bruins proceeded to go in on a break-away as a result and scored.
The Flyers got a short-handed goal by Jori Lehtera in the second. But, that wasn’t enough as the Flyers fell into a shell trying to protect the 2-2 tie game in the 3rd.
And, like 2 of the previous 3 games in Boston in late March, the Flyers gave up a goal with under a minute left in the 3rd to lose the game. Brad Marchand put home a loose puck behind Lyon with 22 seconds left in the 3rd.
Here are 4 more observations from the Flyers 3-2 loss to the Bruins…
Boston breakdown continues:
For the 3rd time in the last 4 seasons, the Flyers lost a game in Boston late in regulation. In the 2 previous times, the Flyers lost with under 15 seconds left in the game.
Tonight, Brad Marchand scored with 22 seconds left to give the Bruins the win. Marchand’s goal adds to the Flyers agony they have late in March in Boston.
But, it also adds more to the Flyers recent skid, losing their 5th straight game.
Couturier’s struggles continue:
If anybody deserved a goal tonight, it was Sean Couturier. However, just like in his previous 9 games, Couturier could not get one to go.
Now, after his 10-straight game without a goal, Couturier is looking for answers. Couturier hasn’t been doing anything wrong. He just isn’t getting the shots to go that he was scoring on earlier this season.
But, even with his 10-game goal-less stretch, Couturier hasn’t stopped playing a great two-way game. Over his 10-game scoreless streak, Couturier has averaged 22 + minutes.
Power-Play One & Done
After looking stellar and back to normal on the 1st power-play of the night, the Flyers power-play settled back into its recent stretch. With a goal in the first 9 seconds of the power-play, the Flyers power-play went silent for the rest of the night.
The Flyers power-play finished 1 for 5, really 0 for 4 after the 1st goal, on the night. Including an extremely disappointing power-play with under 6 minutes left in the 3rd.
If you watched the 1st Flyers power-play, you would have thought the power-play woos were fixed. However, the power-play woos are nowhere close to being over.
Where To Next?
With the Flyers losing their 5th straight, the question remains, Where to next? However, where to next, is the Western Conference leaders the Winnipeg Jets.
The Flyers have the 6th hardest schedule remaining this season in terms of win percentage. But, they are entering a key stretch of games that has them facing the Jets, Vegas, & a playoff bubble Blue Jackets team that needs every point they can get.
With no end in sight for tough games, the Flyers have to find a way to end the skid and turn things around before it is too late. Dont look now, but the Flyers have lost 5 straight and are only 4 points clear of a playoff spot.
Result : Flyers 2 – Bruins 3, Loss
Record : 34 – 23 – 11
Next Game : 3/10 Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia PA, NBCSports Philadelphia 1:00pm
Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
