Flyers Go Punch-for-Punch, Bruins Barely Muster Shootout Win
By Duncan Day
Mar 30, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) makes a save against Philadelphia Flyers left wing Michael Raffl (12) during the shootout at Wells Fargo Center. The Bruins defeated the Flyers, 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Bruins Endure Back-to-Back Road Games
Back in January, the Boston Bruins trounced the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1. Jarome Iginla and Zdeno Chara each tallied a pair of goals.
Earlier today, the Bruins went to Philadelphia for a rematch, and the Flyers, a hungry Eastern Conference playoff team vying for a top seed, showed that they weren’t going to allow the B’s such freedom as they did two months ago.
The Flyers opened the scoring in the first period on Vincent Lecavalier‘s low, seething slap shot.
The Bruins answered right back.
Brad Marchand skated around the Flyers’ net and fed an offensive-minded Andrej Meszaros, who drove towards frame and sniped a clever wrist shot past goaltender Steve Mason.
Just before the period one ended, Jakub Voracek skipped a backhanded pass from the low slot area through several Bruins’ players to defenseman Kimmo Timonen. The veteran capped a simple finish in the face of a sprawling Rask to give the Flyers a 2-1 advantage.
Iginla slotted a pass, about midway through the second period, to Chara behind the net on a powerplay generated by Adam Hall‘s hooking penalty. The 6’9” captain swiveled in front of the goal and jammed a backhander underneath Mason for the B’s second score of the night.
Patrice Bergeron rushed down the ice during even strength minutes later, whipping a customary ground-level attempt on Mason and gaining his own rebound. He wrapped around the metalwork and then turned to rip a shot on Mason that somehow found twine. Bergeron has counted at least one goal in seven consecutive games.
With seconds left in the final 20 minutes, the Bruins failed to corral a bouncing puck in their own end, and Voracek delivered to Lecavalier on the doorstep for his second goal of the match.
The game, tied at 3-3, resumed in overtime, and after this stretch provided no result, a shootout commenced.
The Bruins’ determination and resilience took over. Bergeron buried a important goal, and Reilly Smith put the icing on the cake with a smooth deke and finish.
Boston has won nine consecutive road games, setting a new franchise record.