The longest homestand of the season for the Boston Bruins finished the way it began. On March 25, the Bruins lost to the New York Islanders, 4-3, in overtime to kick off the seven games. Monday night, Boston lost in overtime again, this time to the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, suffering their first loss to them this season after winning their previous five matchups.
With the overtime win, the Flyers close the deficit in the East Division standings to three points on the Bruins for the fourth and final playoff spot. The two teams will play again tonight this time in Philadelphia. The teams will play for a third time this week on Saturday afternoon back at the Wells Fargo Center, which will be the eighth and final game of the season between the clubs.
Tonight’s game is a big game in terms of playoff positioning. The Bruins are currently just ahead of Philly and five points clear of the New York Rangers. Boston has two games in hand on the Flyers and three on the Rangers, thanks in large part to the COVID-19 protocols for the Bruins and a couple of their opponents.
Monday night was a big missed opportunity for the Bruins to get some breathing room in the playoff picture. After falling behind 1-0 in the first period, a late first-period goal from Karson Kuhlman and a second-period power play goal in the first minute of the period from Patrice Bergeron gave the Black and Gold a 2-1 lead.
The Bruins would hold onto the lead until the third period when Jeremy Lauzon was called for a penalty, which leads to the Philadelphia evening the score on a Sean Couturier power play goal.
After both securing a point at the end of regulation, the Flyers left the TD Garden with the extra point when defensemen Travis Sanheim scored on a breakaway with just under two minutes left in overtime when he blocked a Bergeron shot, broke out of the Flyers zone and took advantage of Bergy falling to get behind the defense and end the game.