Game 66 Preview: Make or break in Beantown

Photo Courtesy of Kate Frese

For weeks, all hockey eyes throughout the Delaware Valley were focused on two teams — the Flyers, naturally, and the Boston Bruins. The Flyers had been trying to chase down the Bruins for the Eastern Conference's final playoff seed, but hadn't been able to manage a tie.

They now have the chance to narrow the gap to two points, as they head to TD Garden to take on the Bruins in a Saturday matinee — the third and final meeting between both opponents this season.

The Bruins won both meeting against the Flyers this season, winning 2-1 on Oct. 8 — both teams' respective season openers — and 3-1 at Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 10. The Orange and Black are winless in their last five games against the Bruins, and are also winless in their last four games at TD Garden. A win Saturday would give the Bruins their second-consecutive season series sweep over the Flyers.

Notably, their matchup on Jan. 1o featured the beginning of the injury woes that have plagued Steve Mason over the past two months. Mason went down after making a save on a Craig Cunningham shot early in the first period, and did not return. The game also featured David Pastrnak's first two NHL goals.

Mason's expected to start Saturday's game for the Flyers, despite being stricken hard by the news of goaltending coach Jeff Reese's sudden departure on Friday. Reese had been credited by Mason as the biggest reason for his career renaissance since being acquired by the Orange and Black in April 2013, and the two enjoyed a close relationship.

In the cage, the Bruins are expected to start Tuukka Rask, who enters with a 25-16-10 record, 2.35 GAA and .920 save percentage. Patrice Bergeron enters as their leading scorer, with 18 goals and 45 points in 62 games.

Chris Kelly has scored for the Bruins in both games — including the game-winning goal with 1:51 to play in the Oct. 8 season opener. Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux are responsible for both Flyers goals in the season series, while Jakub Voracek has two assists.

It goes without saying that wins against the Bruins have come at a premium for the Flyers, as of late. But their desperation for a playoff spot, combined with their track record this season against winning teams, means that the Flyers surely can't be discounted.

Follow Rob Riches on Twitter @Riches61