The opening 10 minutes of the game belonged to the Bruins, and they rarely looked threatened during the remaining 50.
The Flyers commit more penalties than any other team in the NHL, and the Bruins had two power plays early. On the second, Zdeno Chara was the benefactor of a lucky bounce off a Flyer’s skate, and was credited for a goal when the puck ended up in Steve Mason’s net. During an even strength stretch of the first period, the Bruins held the puck in Philadelphia’s zone for a minute and 11 seconds. But the dominance did not produce a second goal, and the Flyers found their skates as the first period went on.
During the second half of the first period, the Flyers produced more chances and shots, but Tukka Rask stopped them all. Jarome Iginla scored with less than 20 seconds remaining to double the Bruins’ lead.
“It wouldn’t be a Bruins-Flyers game without fisticuffs.” – Dale Arnold, during the first intermission.
After Reilly Smith’s backhand made the game 3-0, Arnold’s prediction came true. Johnny Boychuk exchanged blows with Scott Hartnell, and Gregory Campbell, for reasons only he knows, picked a fight with the larger and more experienced Brayden Schenn.
Ray Emery relieved Mason in the Flyers’ net after Patrice Bergeron gave the Bruins a fourth goal on a tight-angle rebound.
The third period was academic, but did feature three more goals.
Assorted notes:
20 year-old Dougie Hamilton returned to the ice after missing four games with a concussion. Hamilton believes that he suffered the concussion during the 4-2 loss to the Kings on the ninth. The fact that he then played in San Jose on the 11th is concerning. Today, Hamilton committed a tripping penalty in the second period and had a breakaway immediately after his time in the box. Ray Emery stopped his attempt to make the game 5-0.
The Bruins shaky penalty kill reared its ugly head again in the third period, ad Claude Giroux broke the shutout.
Iginla’s first period goal was his first in nine games. He added a second on a power play in the third. He also had two assists to Zdeno Chara.
Bruins, etc. 