Boston Bruins: 3 Keys Against the Flyers

2. Bruins’ continued power play success against the Flyers.

In the first four games of the season, the Boston power play has been a big difference in the outcome of the games against Philly. The Bruins are 7-for-12 on the man advantage, including three of their four goals in a Feb. 3, 4-3, overtime victory at the Well Fargo Center.

Philadelphia brings the 29th-ranked penalty kill to Lake Tahoe with them. Thursday night against the Devils, the Bruins scored two power play goals in their loss. Boston was successful in the Feb. 3 game with a five forward grouping on the man advantage that led to two of the three PP goals, but that most likely won’t happen tonight with David Krejci out of the lineup with an injury.

3. Rask remains perfect against Philadelphia this season.

In three of the Bruins’ four wins in 2021, Tuukka Rask has been between the pipes and won each game. In the team’s first meeting on Jan. 21 in Boston, Rask made 22 saves in a 5-4 Boston shootout victory. Rask turned aside all three Flyers’ shootout attempts, setting the stage for Jake DeBrusk to win the game in the final round of shots.

In the team’s two-game set in Philadelphia the first week in February, Rask won both games 48 hours apart. In the first game, he made 22 saves in a Bruins overtime win and then stopped 25 shots on Feb. 5, including 13 in the third period, as the Black and Gold rallied with two goals 27 seconds apart in the final period for a 2-1 win.

Rask should be well-rested as he is coming off an eight-day break, last playing Feb. 13 against the Islanders. Jaroslav Halak played in Thursday’s loss to the Devils.

The Bruins have managed to win their four games against Philly in four different ways this season. They have won in a shootout, overtime, a blowout, and a one-goal game. They should be able to handle whatever situation they face tonight.