The Philadelphia Flyers kept their slim playoff chances alive Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center. Beating the team they are chasing, the Boston Bruins, 3-2.
Head coach Alain Vigneault said the Flyers needed to focus on today’s game first before looking to their next game. But, in what has become the Flyers motto this season, another slow start costed them the early lead.
Boston would fire the first 7-shots on net. With Patrice Bergeron getting the 7th shot by Brian Elliott. It was Bergeron’s 8th goal against the Flyers this season.
The Flyers first shot did not come til 8:26 into the period. Thereafter, it would be all Flyers the remainder of the period. A response that resulted in two goals & a 1st period lead.
Travis Konecny would play apart in both goals. First, scoring the tying goal on a juicy rebound. Then, giving the Flyers the lead with a perfect shot-pass to Shayne Gostisbehere for the redirect goal.
Like most of their season, the Flyers couldn’t halt the opposing teams push. A push that resulted in the Bruins tying goal after extended pressure following a Bruins power-play mid-way through the 2nd period.
However, the Flyers were able to hold off the Bruins on the power-play today. Entering the day stopping just 50% (10/20) of Boston’s power-play opportunities on the season.
Sean Couturier & the Flyers top line would be the deciding factor today. After being called apon the past few games, the top line answered the call today. Scoring the winning goal with 13:01 left in the 3rd period.
Joel Farabee was re-united with Couturier & James van Riemsdyk after being demoted two-games ago. Farabee would make the extra pass, which almost resulted in a turnover, to Couturier for the goal.
Brian Elliott was the best Flyers penalty killer today. Stopping 30 of the 32 shots, including all 8-shots on the penalty kill, in the winning effort.
Loose Pucks…
– Even with going scoreless for 11-straight games, Travis Konecny has been one of the best Flyers since returning from Covid. In 22-games since his return, Konecny has a team high 19-points. (4G-15A)
– For the first time in 14-games, the Flyers held a lead after the 1st period.
– The Flyers penalty kill delivered its past performance of the season against one of the top power-plays in the NHL. Stopping all four Bruins power-plays today.
– Head coach Alain Vigneault has been wanting more from his top line for the past 4-5 games. Today, when they needed it the most, James van Riemsdyk-Sean Couturier-Joel Farabee were reunited in the 3rd & won the game for the Flyers.
– Must win? If the Flyers wanted any chance of making a run for the playoffs, today was a must win. Which, after going down 1-0 after yet another slow start, didn’t seem like it was going to happen. But, the Flyers fought back & extended their season another day.
Result : Flyers 3 – Bruins 2 , WIN
Record : 19 – 15 – 6
Next Game : 4/11 Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia PA, 2:00pm
Photo Credit : Len Redkoles – Getty Images
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