Deja vu.
It isn't the first time the Flyers have made the trip to TD Garden in March and come out on the wrong end of a result in the closing moments to the Boston Bruins. And it was a familiar foe that planted the dagger in the heart of the Flyers.
Brad Marchand scored the game-winning goal with 22 seconds left as the Flyers skid reached five games.
On to our Postgame Review.
Postgame Points
- Special Teams – The special teams performance was better on both ends for the Flyers in this game, but there's still a lot to be desired.
The Flyers got an early four-minute power play and scored eight seconds in. That's improvement. But with two more minutes of power-play time to work with, the Flyers could have made an early statement with a two-goal lead. They didn't and Boston was able to capitalize on a mistake to tie the game.
The big thing here is the late power play in the third period. Under seven minutes to play and the Flyers go to the man-advantage with a chance. They struggled to get chances and possession on that final power play and that was really the best chance the Flyers had in the final period. The rest of it was just hanging on for dear life, which is not the right approach to a third period.
- Heart of a Lyon - For a change, Alex Lyon got a chance in goal and made the most of it. This is a very different game without some of the saves Lyon made on the Bruins top line. Lyon's solid effort had the Flyers in the game.
It felt like the consistent losing was shaking Petr Mrazek's confidence. Mrazek plays back in the net anyway, but he seemed shaky and unsure and fragile in these last couple of games. Lyon looked much more poised, to the point where he possibly earned another start here this weekend with Winnipeg and Vegas coming into Philadelphia.
There were some things that went right, some that went wrong, but ultimately, Lyon made the saves he had to and just couldn't get a helping hand when the Bruins relentless netfront presence allowed the puck to fall behind him in the final seconds.
- Patrick's Pass - Pretty much every game now Nolan Patrick is doing something to show his growth and natural instincts. In this game, it was a pass that requires a lot of hockey sense to make.
Patrick went between the legs on a pass to Jake Voracek for the goal that was simply sensational.
Patrick has developed into a solid second line center and is starting to show that offensive instinct. There are still mistakes with his game — his turnover at the Flyers blue line led to the Bruins first goal — but his game is coming around.
- Maddening March Loss - A trip to TD Garden in March in like a punishment for the Flyers and their fans. These aren't just any losses. These are as gut-wrenching as it gets.
Remember the near win for the Flyers three seasons ago, on March 7, that went sour in the final seconds before Boston won in overtime? That was basically the end of the Flyers playoff hopes. Remember who scored the tying and winning goals that game? Brad Marchand.
Last season, the Flyers played in Boston on March 11. It was essentially the Flyers last hope to stay afloat in the playoff picture and Drew Stafford scored with six seconds left in the third for a 2-1 Bruins win. No points, nothing to show for the effort.
So here we go again. Another late-season trip to Boston, another loss that really rips your heart out.
- Don't Look Now - With how streaky the Flyers have been this season, it wouldn't be surprising if just one positive result, one win, snaps them right out of this skid. If that is to be the case, they need that win to come soon, because the rest of the Eastern Conference is coming.
There are only 14 games left in the regular season and it would still take quite a bit for the Flyers to completely fall out of the playoffs. But the margin to the first team out of the playoff picture is now down to six. Florida is gunning for a spot. So is Columbus. New Jersey is just three points back of the third spot in the division.
The Flyers 12-game points streak put them in a comfortable spot in the playoff picture. It's not so comfortable anymore.
Play of the Game
Jake Voracek got the payoff on the first goal of the game, but it was Nolan Patrick's tremendous between-the-legs pass that makes the highlight.
By the Numbers
Boston had a 60.61 CF% in the third period at 5-on-5, clearly trying to attack on a Flyers team playing on the back-end of a back-to-back. The Flyers had a very strong second period, posting a 64 CF% at 5-on-5, but couldn't carry that into the third period. The Bruins also had 12 high-danger scoring chances to the Flyers four at 5-on-5. Boston's three goals all came from in close on Lyon and there was tons of pressure from the slot, whereas the Flyers were once again held to the outside for most of the night.
