The Philadelphia Flyers were coming off of a 4-1 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night. The team was looking to end the frustrating win one-lose one streak of mediocrity that has plagued their early season. In an effort to gain that elusive consistency, Brian Elliott was back in net for the Flyers. A win would get the Flyers back to .500 for the fifth time this season.
First Period
The first period was relatively uneventful for both the Flyers and the Bruins. Neither team giving the other very much in terms of room on the ice or offensive chances. Each team had one opportunity on the power play in the first period. The Bruins got their chance thanks to a slashing penalty by Robert Hagg at 11:27. The Flyers got their power play late in the period as a result of a delay of game on Zdeno Chara at 18:05. Both teams failed to score on their power play opportunities. The Flyers and the Bruins each had seven shots on goal in a very defensive first period. The Flyers, the worst first period team in the NHL, managed to play the first period even; scoreless.
Second Period
The second period started with more pace and open ice than the first period. Both teams had their chances; odd man rushes, point blank shots, hit posts, and offensive zone possession time. However it was the Bruins that broke the scoreless tie at 13:00 of the period. An Andrew MacDonald turnover in the defensive zone resulted in a Zdeno Chara goal. The goal was Chara’s second of the season and looked to be a makeable save for Brian Elliott. The Flyers, for the ninth time in their first ten games, surrender the first goal of the game. The Bruins would get their second power play opportunity late in the period. The too many men on the ice penalty would cost the Flyers as Jake DeBrusk scores his third goal of the season at 17:28. The second period ended with the Bruins leading 2-0. Missed opportunities for the Flyers; particularly Claude Giroux. Giroux was stopped on a semi-breakaway and also on a 2-on-1 by Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak.
Third Period
The lethargy that defined the first period for the Flyers returned in the third period. The Bruins carried the play for much of the first half of the period. The Bruins did give the Flyers some life by taking back-to-back penalties midway through the period. Despite a hit crossbar by Jake Voracek and a couple of other scoring chances, the Flyers were unable to take advantage of the four minutes worth of power plays. Any momentum that Flyers had was short-lived as they spent most of the remaining six minutes of the game shorthanded. The Bruins put the game away with an empty net goal at 19:37 of the period. Zdeno Chara scored his second of the game, third goal of the season. The Bruins beat the Flyers 3-0.
A Look at the Numbers
The Flyers are now 4-10-2 in their last 16 games vs. the Bruins
Shayne Gostisbehere extended his pointless streak to 4 games
Nolan Patrick has his 2 game goal scoring streak snapped
Claude Giroux has 26 points (9G-17A) in 34 career games vs. the Bruins
Jake Voracek has 22 points (6G-16A) in 26 career games vs. the Bruins
The Flyers 3-2-0 against Eastern Conference teams this season
The Flyers record is now 4-6-0, 8 points
My Three Stars
- Jaroslav Halak – 26 saves on 26 shots, 1.000 SV%, Shutout
- Zdeno Chara – 2G, +1, 5 SOG, 22:38 TOI
- Jake DeBrusk – 1G, +1, 3 SOG, 13:14 TOI
What’s Next
The Flyers return home to play the New York Islanders at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, October 27th. Broadcast: NBCSP & 93.3FM at 1PM
This will be the Flyers first of four games against the Islanders this season. The Flyers are 10-4-6 in their last 20 games vs. the Islanders and 6-1-3 in their last 10 games at home vs. the Islanders.
