Broad Street Buzz
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Flyers aim to earn comeback win versus Boston on Friday night

By Walt Gebelein

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 03: David Pastrnak #88, Brad Marchand #63 and Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins skate against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on February 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 03: David Pastrnak #88, Brad Marchand #63 and Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins skate against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on February 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The Flyers will be looking to stop a “zero for the season” against the Boston Bruins on Friday night.

Here are some key points about tonight’s game.

Leaving the Defensive Zone with Possession

When the Bruins have been most effective, they are able to thwart Flyers zone exits and extend their time in the offensive end. The Flyers will need to have a plan, and they will need to have clean execution to avoid what has been a frequent problem.

Pick on the Bruins Aggressive Defense

Part of the reason that the Bruins forecheck has been so good is that their defensemen are completely selling out trying to keep pucks in the offensive zone. That much aggression should open up a lot of ice behind the pinching defenders.  Flyers’ wingers should look to stay close to the blueline and challenge the Bruins’ defenders, rather than sagging back in the defensive end to pitch in on defending the forwards.

Stop Icing the Puck

The Bruins, especially the Perfection Line, are extremely dangerous in the offensive zone during faceoffs. Icing calls allow the Bruins to put out fresh players in their offensive zone against fatigued Flyers defenders. This is particularly dangerous against Bergeron and company and makes up the bulk of the corsi margin between the teams this season.

What to Look For

Follow how many times the Flyers gain the offensive zone with possession and fail to generate a shot attempt. Much fuss has been made about the shot differential but it appears that this may be by design. The Flyers are looking for certain kinds of shots.

Interference is being committed on virtually every shift Boston takes, but it is not being called. It is hard to come to Scott Laughton’s defense for his penalty in the closing seconds of regulation in the last game, but it seemed to be a mild transgression compared to what the Bruins do, and get away with, ad nauseam.

Look for the nasty to come out tonight.  Nicolas Aube-Kubel wrecked a few Bruins in the last game, and it is hard to ignore the feeling that there is a lot of frustration that is about to boil over.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Giroux-Hayes-Voracek
Lindblom-Patrick-Konecny
van Riemsdyk-Laughton-Farabee
Raffl-Bunnaman-Aube-Kubel

Provorov-Gostisbehere
Sanheim-Myers
Gustafsson-Braun

Brian Elliott will start on Friday night.

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