Struggling Flyers look to gain ground on Bruins
By Colin Newby
The Philadelphia Flyers will again turn to goaltender Carter Hart when they face off against the Boston Bruins tonight in the sixth matchup between the respective teams this season. The Bruins have won each of the first five, and they currently sit four points ahead of the Flyers for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division.
The two teams last met on Feb. 21 outdoors at Lake Tahoe. The Bruins dominated a Flyers team depleted by COVID-19 related absences in a 7-3 blowout.
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 17-14-5 (39 points)
The Flyers’ woes continued on Saturday night in a shootout loss against the New York Islanders. Despite a strong third period comeback led by captain Claude Giroux, the Flyers fell to 6-10-2 in their last 18 games.
Hart returned on Saturday night for his first game action in over a week. Despite taking the loss, he stopped 22 of 24 shots he faced in one of his stronger efforts of the season. The Flyers will look for Hart to recapture a rhythm in the crease for a late-season playoff push.
Rookie Tanner Laczynski made his NHL debut Saturday. He recorded one shot on goal in just over eight minutes of ice time. Postgame evaluations of Laczynski’s play were predominantly positive.
Forwards
JVR- Couturier- Farabee
Laughton- Hayes- Patrick
Voracek– Giroux– Konecny
Lindblom– Laczynski– Aube-Kubel
Defense
Provorov– Braun
Sanheim– Myers
Morin– Gostisbehere
Goaltenders
Hart (starter)
Elliott
Boston Bruins
Record: 19-10-5 (43 points)
The Bruins’ top end talent was on full display Saturday in a wild 7-5 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The offensive explosion included a hat trick from winger Brad Marchand, two goals from winger David Pastrnak, and one goal each from centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.
Pastrnak already has two hat tricks in three games played against Philadelphia this season. The Flyers will need a stronger defensive effort than they’ve shown in recent weeks if they hope to contain Boston’s star players.
Boston has been carried by their special teams units this season. They boast the NHL’s top penalty killing unit at a stellar 89% and the tenth ranked power play unit.
They will be without their starting goaltender Tuukka Rask. Jaroslav Halak tested positive for COVID so he will be unavailable as well.
Forwards
Marchand- Bergeron -Smith
Ritchie- Krejci- Pastrnak
DeBrusk – Coyle – Senyshyn
Frederic – Kuraly – Kuhlman
Defense
Grzelcyk- McAvoy
Lauzon – Clifton
Zboril – Kampfer
Goaltenders
Vladar
Swayman
Where, When, and How to Watch
Time: 7 PM EST
Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia, NHL Network
Radio Broadcast: 97.5 The Fanatic
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