Date Published: 11-17-2022
Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers held their own beyond expectations for most of this game. Boston is a really solid team on a very impressive run, they have the best record in the NHL 15-2-0. The Flyers came into the game winless in 4 and right around 500. The 1st period did nothing to give you a hint that the teams are on such different trajectories. The Flyers did not look intimidated they kept their game simple and their coverage solid. They were shorthanded a couple times and the penalty kill was up to the task. Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton are such an effective pairing on the PK, they are efficient at breaking up plays and quite often offensively dangerous. Carter Hart made some key saves when he needed to and the 1st period ended in a scoreless draw.
The Bruins definitely came out pushing the Flyers a bit harder in the 2nd. The Flyers were not budging, they remained cohesive and patient with the puck. Both teams were starting to look a little tired of each other about halfway through the period. The play grew more physical and a little chippy. One entertaining moment was watching David Pastrnak take an attempted run at Rasmus Ristolainen only to skate away looking like he had just run into a cactus. Boston scored the first goal of the game 11:25 into the 2nd. The Flyers who looked really solid up to that point sputtered and their wheels fell off just long enough for Tomas Nosek to take advantage of the breakdown. Boston entered the zone easily. The Flyers fell back surrounding their net, but the entire team including Hart over-committed to the first attempt leaving themselves totally out of position for the second effort. The Flyers quickly regained their discipline and composure after the goal and got out of the period only down by one. Quite unfortunately they also ended the period without Travis Konecny who left with an injury and did not return to the game. (no update is available at this time)
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The Flyers started the 3rd period with back to back power plays but were ineffective in both of them. Boston kept the Flyers out of the dangerous areas and just nibbling around the edges of two golden opportunities to even the score. The Bruins went up by 2 on a power play goal from Jake DeBrusk 7:32 into the 3rd. The Flyers only goal of the night came off the stick of Owen Tippett on the powerplay at 9:48. It seemed like the Flyers were back in a good place, down by only one goal halfway into the 3rd. That positive feeling lasted all of 16 seconds. Boston’s David Krejci scored his 1st goal of the night at 10:04 and his second at 16:21 to put all hope of a comeback out of reach. The Flyers had put up a good fight but were now trapped in a 3rd period where the Bruins were still stacking up chances as time ran out. Although losing the game by the final score of 4 to 1 it took the Bruins until the middle of the final period to really take control of the contest. The Flyers kept themselves in this game longer than most expected against a very dominant team. The Bruins have won all 10 of their home games so far this season. The Flyers next game will be in Montreal Saturday night at 7pm. A winning effort any time soon could take a lot of pressure off the team and help shorten the recovery time between games during a very busy schedule.
Extra Credit:
It may be bad form to dwell on the injuries this team is dealing with, but at some point it becomes absurd not to mention the amount of key players they are competing without right now.
I lumped of that coach of yours so badly that he forgot how to coach a penalty kill