Flyers lose seven straight, Bruins pick up historic NHL win

The end is near; two games are left for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2022-2023 season. All aboard the Connor Bedard train, but on the way, support the Lehigh Valley Phantoms who clinched their spot in the AHL postseason push for the Calder Cup.

It was an exciting game, resulting in a historic win for the Boston Bruins. The Flyers continue to slump, having a rough go from puck drop in a 5-3 defeat.

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins

Coming in hot, the Boston Bruins scored less than a minute in. A one-timer from Charlie Coyle sunk past Felix Sandstrom, 1-0. It was his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Connor Carrick.

Give the Philadelphia Flyers an inch, and they’ll take a mile. After the next faceoff, Wade Allison earned his ninth goal. Jeremy Swayman mishandled the puck, and Allison cleaned up the rebound, 1-1.

Sandstrom took everything the Bruins had in the rest of the period, including two near goals by David Pastrnak. Sandstrom performed better than expected versus the cream of the crop while missing a defenseman.

Here’s a fun fact: this tilt was the third time the Flyers played the Bruins on Easter Sunday.

The Bruins were the first to score in the second period, serving as a dose of deja vu. Pastrnak took the puck down the ice and fired the noodle (puns!) through the five-hole on Sandstrom, 2-1. Clifton notched his second assist in his first NHL game of the 2022-2023 season, making it the 58th macaroni for ‘Pasta.’

Pastrnak fired again on Sandstrom, which would have been his second goal of the night. Clifton had some assistance from Ivan Provorov as he fell over Sandstrom. Clifton risked goalie contact. Jim Montgomery challenged the call, but after the pinstripes reviewed the play, Boston served a two-minute minor for delay of game.

Pastrnak put Sandstrom into deep hot water. He located another goal, sniping glove side. He pinged the posts for his 59th of the season, 3-1. Tyler Bertuzzi had the assist.

Jakub Zboril served a hooking minor drawn by Joel Farabee. Unfortunately, the Flyers couldn’t do anything with their second powerplay opportunity, falling to 0/2. Yet, the Flyers figured it out. Owen Tippett chipped the puck into the offensive zone, and Joel Farabee made a beeline for Swayman, firing the curler to make it 3-2.

Bertuzzi and Travis Sanheim got into it nearby the crease, where Bertuzzi went to the penalty box for roughing. The Flyers went on their third powerplay, the most active one yet. It ended quickly, however. Travis Konecny served a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. After two, the Bruins led by one.

Another start to a period, another Pastrnak goal. Hats were tossed at the Wells Fargo Center! He potted a one-timer past Sandstrom, 4-2. The hat trick resulted in his 300th NHL goal.

In a scary moment, Provorov seemed to have injured his left arm, laying face down on the ice after a hit into the boards. He skated off the ice, then reappeared on the bench later. Nicolas Deslauriers and AJ Greer battled it out for each side, holding their own against each other before serving five minutes for fighting.

The Flyers capitalized when Tippett scored a one-timer set up by Farabee, 4-3. Noah Cates drove the puck down the ice, sliding the first pass to Farabee to initiate the scoring play. It is the 24th goal of the season for Tippett.

With three minutes left in regulation, the Bruins scored an insurance goal. Pavel Zacha snapped one past Sandstrom, 5-3. Pastrnak could’ve taken the shot, but he served the dish to Zacha instead on the assist. By a final score of 5-3, the Bruins handed the Flyers their seventh straight loss while simultaneously breaking the NHL single-season record for wins with 63.

After the game, John Tortorella commented on the resiliency of the team and how losing is all part of the long game.

“All of this stuff with us getting the crap kicked out of us the past couple of weeks: we lose another game, the Bruins fans in there; that is part of the process. That’s where we are in our process. Losing the games; this is the hard part of the process, but it’s a part that we have to go through.”

John Tortorella; 4/9/2023

Gina’s Gem of the Game

I have one more left up my sleeve, and it might shock the socks off of you: the ‘Diamond of the Tilt’ goes to Provorov.

Provorov isn’t one to shy away from physicality. He makes hits and blocks shots like how Tortorella demands. He’s tough.

“It doesn’t surprise me, that’s the way he is. The definition of Provy; I watched him earlier this year practicing. He gets cut; pretty good cut, we probably have five more minutes left in practice. He gets stitched and gets out there; probably gets two or three of those minutes. He doesn’t stay down. We can piss and moan as coaches when he struggles sometimes and all that; he’s frustrating to me at times. How he handles himself, there’s not too many players that go about it that way.”

John Tortorella; 4/9/2023

It is undeniable praise for his toughness and intestinal fortitude. Provorov is a workhorse.

Next Up

Next, the Philadelphia Flyers host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center. The puck drops at 7pm.

(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)