David Krejci scored 14:01 into overtime to give the Bruins a 3-2 win and a 2-0 series lead. The play had to be reviewed as the call on the ice was no goal, but it didn't take long to see the puck clearly went in.
It was a disappointing end as the puck came in on Brian Boucher, who passed to Braydon Coburn. To start the breakout, Coburn threw the puck behind the net to Kimmo Timonen, and Danny Briere circled down and up the ice preparing to go back on the attack. But Timonen missed the pass and Briere's man continued on the forecheck. Nathan Horton collected the puck along the boards and fired a pass to Krejci, who roofed it over Brian Boucher's shoulder.
The overtime period was largely dominated by the Flyers, though there was a good bit of back and forth play. The Flyers recorded 10 shots on goal in overtime alone, and 54 total for the game. But Tim Thomas stopped the last 46 shots he faced, many of them spectacular.
It was a demoralizing loss, as the Flyers recorded more than enough quality scoring chances but just couldn't put them past Thomas. They had multiple odd-man rushes, multiple mini-breakaways, and more than a couple posts. But one puck that bounces over Timonen's stick puts them in a difficult hole.
Notes:
- James van Riemsdyk is a beast. Seriously, I don't think he could have had a better game than the one he did tonight. Over 28 minutes of ice time, 8 shots, and 2 goals.
- If you're looking for a reason why the Flyers lost tonight, even I can't blame the Flyers. Tim Thomas is the reason the Flyers lost tonight.
- The Flyers' second best player on the ice tonight was Claude Giroux. He recorded an assist on van Riemsdyk's first goal, played over 27 minutes, and finished a plus-15 Corsi when the Flyers had a minus-2 Corsi.
- The Bruins received goals from their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lines tonight. That's depth scoring right there.
- Former Flyer Dennis Seidenberg played over 36 minutes. More than Zdeno Chara. Always liked Seidenberg, though right now he's just making me sad.
- For as much as we complain about Sean O`Donnell, he had his second straight solid game. On a 3-on-2 late in the game, he deftly lifted the stick of his man preventing a scoring chance. If he's turning his game around, he couldn't do it at a better time.
- It's not why the Flyers lost, but it is still a problem: Danny Briere spent 10 of his 18.5 even-strength minutes against Zdeno Chara. On home ice, why can't Peter Laviolette avoid that matchup? The good news is that Briere's line did avoid the Krejci line tonight though.
- Brian Boucher left the game in the second with what appeared to be a broken finger, but he was apparently good enough to come out and start the third. The fact that Johan Backlund went to the locker room to suit up was a scary thought though.
- Kimmo Timonen will probably be subject to scrutiny, but the puck hopped over his stick. These things happen. It's not because he's old - though he is - and it's not because he's injured - though he always is. It happens.
- The Flyers are in a difficult spot, being down 2-0 and heading to Boston. Can't deny this. But all the "got them right where we want them" talk is just a poor attempt to ignore the situation. The Flyers played like crap in Game One, and played excellent hockey in Game Two. Just keep pluggin'
Highlights