Broad Street Buzz
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Tuukka Rask Stones Flyers As Win Streak Ends

By Ariel Melendez

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 10: Matt Grzelcyk #48, David Krejci #46, David Pastrnak #88,Torey Krug #47 and Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins celebrate a goal as Robert Hagg #8 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates by in the second period at Wells Fargo Center on March 10, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 10: Matt Grzelcyk #48, David Krejci #46, David Pastrnak #88,Torey Krug #47 and Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins celebrate a goal as Robert Hagg #8 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates by in the second period at Wells Fargo Center on March 10, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /
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It was a battle of the best team versus the hottest team. And unfortunately for the Flyers, the best team won.

It was bound to happen at some point. Boston is the best team in the league for a reason. The Flyers did everything they could, but just couldn’t beat Tuukka Rask and the Bruins.

It was just like a playoff game when these two teams faced off. The pace was high and both teams were creating chances. For the Flyers, they came out with a much better starting effort than their game against Buffalo.

An early chance for Boston came off the stick of Joakim Nordstrom. Carter Hart gave away the puck near the net and had to quickly erase the mistake with a big save.

In his first game action since February 6th, Shayne Gostisbehere looked good. He drew an early penalty after making a move on Chris Wagner and forcing the forward to trip him. On a pairing with Robert Hagg, the two looked good. They even had a counter rush and almost capitalized on it in the first period. As he would be all game, Rask stood tall when the Bruins needed him to.

The Flyers came out of the first period with the 12-8 shot advantage, but neither team with a goal. The Flyers continued their strong play in the second period. They had a 20-9 shot advantage midway through the game. But Boston would connect on the power play.

Before the Bruins scored, the Flyers had a shorthanded chance where they weren’t able to get a shot on Rask. Scott Laughton elected to try and pass to Kevin Hayes on the short handed rush. Charlie Coyle dove across to stop the pass.

Matt Grzelcyk would get the goal for Boston moments later. The Flyers penalty kill was stuck on a long shift and couldn’t get the puck. David Pastrnak sent the one touch pass to Grzelcyk for the one-timer. David Krejci grabbed the other assist.

Boston turned things on in the third period and continued to shut down the Flyers offense. They nearly grabbed the equalizer, though, with about five and a half to go. Off the pass from Joel Farabee, Ivan Provorov was alone in front. He tipped the puck but Rask slid across and robbed him with the right pad.

The Bruins put this one away with a goal from Patrice Bergeron. About a minute after Provorov’s chance, Bergeron came into the zone and fired the puck from the middle of the ice. It may have deflected off of Travis Sanheim on the way past Hart. Nonetheless, that would be the dagger for the Flyers.

Alain Vigneault elected to pull Hart with 2:40 remaining in the game. Unfortunately the Flyers weren’t able to make much happen with the extra man. They fired off just two shots, both of course stopped by Rask. Jakub Voracek also hit the goal post.

Despite outplaying the Bruins for at least the first two periods, the nine game win streak came to an end. The Flyers will be right back at it when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

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