Postgame 5: Flyers blanked by Bruins, 3-0

The Philadelphia Flyers lost 3-0 to the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center. Five nights earlier, the Flyers defeated the Bruins 2-0 in Boston.

The Bruins took a 1-0 lead at 13:28 of the first period. From below the goal line, Matthew Poitras (1st goal of the season) directed a shot from goalkeeper Aleksei Kolosov into the net. Morgan Geekie and Hampus Lindholm scored the assists.

At 11:23 of the second period, Boston gained a 2-0 lead. While Justin Brazeau (3rd) was shifting his momentum downhill, he fired a shot into the net that was sent into the middle by Brad Marchand. Elias Lindholm received the second assist.

Marchand (3rd) added a long-distance goal without a goal at 16:21 of the third period. David Pastrnak scored the assist.

Samuel Ersson (nine saves on nine shots) left the game after suffering a lower-body injury at 7:36 of the first period. He previously had a problem with his right skate blade. Kolosov jumped into his place. The Belarusian rookie saved 20 of 22 shots.

Joonas Korpisalo secured the shutout win. He stopped all 20 shots he faced.

The Flyers took a 3-0 lead on the power play. The score in the penalty shootout was 2-2.

FLYER STARTING LINEUP

11 Travis Konecny ​​– 14 Sean Couturier – 39 Matvei Michkov
74 Owen Tippett – 48 Morgan Frost – 71 Tyson Foerster
86 Joel Farabee – 21 Scott Laughton – 10 Bobby Brink
27 Noah Cates – 25 Ryan Poehling – 19 Garnet Hathaway

6 Travis Sanheim – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
24 Nick Seeler – 9 Jamie Drysdale
36 Emil Andrae – 77 Erik Johnson

33 Samuel Ersson
(35 Aleksei Kolosov)

PP1: Drysdale, Tippett, Frost, Konecny, Michkov
PP2: Andrae, Foerster, Couturier, Farabee, Brink

TURNING POINT

Ersson hit the bullseye early in Saturday's game, making nine straight saves to keep the game scoreless in the first period. It was a big blow for the Flyers, as Ersson had to leave at 7:36.

Kolosov didn't play badly in relief, but Ersson had played excellent hockey all week. The substitute made some good saves, but the starter's absence was felt.

AFTERMATH 5

1) Right off the bat, at the 42-second mark of the first period, Travis Konecny ​​was called for tripping behind the Boston goal. The Bruins created each of the game's first five shots on goal, including two shots from long range. After a scoring chance for Couturier, the Flyers started their first power play after a rough penalty by Charlie McAvoy. The Flyers only produced one routine cross shot from Tippett. Boston had nine of its first 11 shots at 7:36. The Flyers changed goalkeepers at halftime, with Ersson heading up the tunnel.

2) The Flyers had a few “almost” plays during the first period. Most notably, Frost and Tippett missed the connection on a promising play on the rush that went awry. With 1:13 left, Cates was penalized for holding.

3) Boston opened the second period with 47 seconds remaining on the 5-on-4 power play. Kolosov made a good stop without a rebound as the Cates penalty expired. About five minutes in, Tippett managed a quick shot on the rush after a Frost feed. At 6:13 a.m. Michkov was slashed to stop a rush and Poitras walked away. The only highlight was a late goal chance from Brink.

4) Tippett set up Frost from close range near the net at 16:17 of the second period. Korpisalo made a shoulder save to keep Boston ahead 2-0. Shots in the second period were 7-7 (21-12 Bruins in two periods). The Flyers had a fair amount of puck possession in the midfield, but had 17 shot attempts that were either blocked (11) or missed the net (six).

5) Andrae had several strong transitions on both sides of the puck in the third period. Ten minutes before the end of regular time, Brink blocked a shot from Farabee into the net. Korpisalo parried from close range. Eleven minutes into the third period, the Bruins were 3-2. There were several late game scrums and penalties in the final minutes.