It wasn’t exactly the start the Flyers were looking for against Boston. Off a faceoff win, David Pastrnak came into the offensive zone and went between the legs past Shayne Gostisbehere. He came in tight at the side of the net where his shot may have bounced off Ivan Provorov and past Hart. And that was 12 seconds into the game.
The Flyers did regroup a bit after that, but they weren’t able to create any pressure of their own. They would get into the offensive zone and almost immediately be knocked out. Meanwhile, Boston was having their way with the Flyers on defense. It seemed that every pass went directly to a Bruins player no matter who made the pass.
Hart was standing up to the shots that he did end up facing from Boston. While it seemed they spent a large majority of the period in the zone, they only ended up with eight shots. The Flyers finally felt like they were getting into the game in the last few minutes of the first. Oskar Lindblom had a shot in tight that Rask easily gloved. It was their best chance of the period.
But they can’t go anywhere but up after that period, right?
Well, the Bruins didn’t score a goal 12 seconds into the period so things started much better. And it looked like the Flyers found their legs and most of their passing skills. They were able to set up shots in Boston’s zone and actually hold onto the puck for longer than they had.
The Flyers would get the game’s first power play midway through the period. But again, Boston ended up with more opportunities. Hart had to make a big save as Kevin Hayes couldn’t control the puck at his own blueline. Sean Kuraly stripped him of the puck and went in on a shorthanded breakaway.
The team, and Hayes, would make good on it shortly after. After some cycling in the zone, Travis Sanheim, off a feed from Phil Myers, came down the end boards and threw a pass over to Hayes on the opposite side. He one-timed the shot from the right circle past Rask, who may have gotten a piece of it on the way in.
It was just what the Flyers needed. While they ended up finishing the second on the penalty kill, they looked a lot sharper heading into the third. While anything was better than the first, gaining momentum and putting the pressure back on Boston was key.
After killing off the last 25 seconds of a penalty, the Flyers went to work on getting their own early goal. Sanheim was in front and either went for the shot or knew Jake Voracek was there the whole time. On further review, it looked like Sanheim was looking pass the whole way. Nevertheless, Voracek had a wide-open spot at the side of the net and he did not miss.
Boston was energized after the goal but Hart wasn’t having any of it. And the Flyers did their part to increase the lead as well. James van Riemsdyk was able to push the puck up along the boards where Scott Laughton and Joel Farabee came in on a 2-on-1. Laughton was able to get the pass past the diving defender and Farabee made no mistake as he dropped to a knee for the one-timer.
But once again, the Bruins didn’t give up. After Nicolas Aube-Kubel took a penalty, they made quick work of the ensuing power play. It was perfect passing from the Bruins as Kuraly found Bergeron in front who then tapped it over to Pastrnak with a wide-open net to shoot at. Exactly what the Flyers did not need after they got an important goal.
They continued to not make it easy on themselves as Hayes took a hooking call with 2:01 remaining in the third. It took until there were 14.9 seconds remaining but Pastrnak would complete the hat trick. Pastrnak was able to bat the puck out of mid-air to tie the game. And overtime it became.
It didn’t take long for Boston to capitalize on yet another powerplay. Laughton took an interference penalty at the end of the third and the Bruins went to work. Pastrnak sent the puck to Bergeron in front. Hart made the first save but Bergeron was able to get the rebound and send the Bruins home happy.
The Flyers will have a day to think this one over as they will be back at the Wells Fargo Center to take on Boston on Friday.