After playing a hard-fought 60 minutes and then some against the Bruins last night, it was looking like the Flyers were heading for another shootout … until a certain Boston Bruin by the name of Patrice Bergeron lost his footing, giving defenseman Travis Sanheim a breakaway opportunity that ended the game.
The Flyers secured two points in a 3-2 victory against Boston last night, courtesy of Sanheim’s wrist shot in OT. Although it is a shame the Bruins managed to grab a point, a win is a win, and the Flyers need all they can get after the horrendous stretch they hopefully are escaping now. I am sure that goal felt amazing for Sanheim as well with the struggles he has been having.
I have to say, how hilarious is it that two of Boston’s best players have cost them two games against the Flyers in the past year? Brad Marchand skated past the puck in a shootout last season to end the game, and now Bergeron falls over nothing and gives up an OT breakaway. Not to mention that this was the first win against Boston all season for the Flyers, the Bruins won the first six matchups.
Another Flyer that needed a good break is Travis Konecny, who broke his 12-game goalless streak last night when the Flyers went up 1-0 in the first period. Sure, Boston goalie Dan Vladar looks like he pulls the puck back in front of the net to Konecny on accident, but that is the kind of stuff that has not been happening for Philly lately, those kinds of fortunate breaks.
A little under seven minutes into the third, Sean Couturier tied the game at 2-2 on the powerplay. Coots likes to take that off-wing wrist shot on the PP when it is there.
Brian Elliot had a strong game, swallowing loose pucks and being the steady netminder that we were seeing through the beginning of the season. He was named the second star of the game. It was already announced that Carter Hart will start tonight in the second game of the home-and-home, so hopefully we see that same confidence from the Islander game later this evening.
Some news regarding tonight’s game: The Flyers faced third-string goalie Dan Vladar last night, and tonight will face yet another backup goaltender. Twenty-two year old Jeremy Swayman will be making his NHL debut for the Bruins tonight. Please let this not be a situation where this guy shuts us out his first start or something.
Also, two regulars in Kevan Miller and Chris Wagner are returning for the B’s tonight, so the Flyers will be facing a more complete Boston team minus the goaltending.
Puck drop is 7:00 PM tonight, a regulation win tonight would close the gap between the two teams to one point in the Eastern Division.