Wrap: Bruins Make History at Flyers' Expense
The Philadelphia Flyers lost to the Boston Bruins, 5-3, at the Wells Fargo Center on Easter Sunday. The Bruins made NHL history at Philly's expense, winning their 63rd game of the season to set a new single-season record. A David Pastrnak hat trick led the way.
With Tony DeAngelo a healthy scratch for the third straight game and Nick Seeler under the weather, the Flyers started 13 forwards and just five defenseman. In the third period, it looked like they'd be down to four D the rest of the night when Ivan Provorov sustained an apparent shoulder injury. He somehow returned -- as Provorov always seems to do -- and gritted through the rest of the game.
The Flyers' home arena was filled with a huge contingent of Bruins' fans, who filled the ice with hats after Pastrnak's third goal of the game and spent much of the latter portion of the match chanting "We want the Cup".
The Flyers battled hard in this one but were simply outgunned. The Flyers are winless their last seven games (0-6-1) dating back to March 30 in Ottawa. Sunday's game was a wide-open content for much of the game, with a lot of scoring chances: 27 for the Flyers, 23 for Boston including 15 high-danger scoring opportunities for the Flyers to nine for the Bruins.
The teams traded off early first period goals, as Charlie Coyle (15th goal of the season) scored at the 47-second mark and Wade Allison (9th) answered at 1:04.
The deadly David Pastnak (58th goal of the season) opened a 2-1 lead for Boston at 2:04 of the second period. A potential second goal for Pastrnak was washed out by goaltender interference at 4:40. Pastrnak scored another one that counted (2nd of the game, 59th of the season) on a rocket off a one-timer at 7:31. The Flyers drew back within 3-2 with a Joel Farabee tally (14th) at 13:58.
Pastnak completed a hat trick, scoring his 60th goal of the season in the process, at the 39-second mark of the third period. Owen Tippett (24th) cut the gap to 4-3 at 9:06. Pavel Zacha (21st) added an insurance goal at 16:56 to open a 5-3 lead the Bruins carried the rest of the way.
Felix Sandström stopped 29 of 34 shots in a losing cause. Jeremy Swayman denied 34 of 37 shots at the other end.
The Flyers went 0-for-4 on the power play. The Bruins were 0-for-1.
For an in-depth period-by-period synopsis, analysis and highlights, see the Postgame 5 on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com. The Flyers, who just completed a stretch of seven games in 11 nights, have to games remaining this season: Tuesday at home against Columbus and Thursday on the road in Chicago,