Wrap: Flyers Pass Huge Test, Beat Boston
The Philadelphia Flyers faced a tough challenge on Saturday afternoon, taking on the Atlantic Division leading Boston Bruins at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers did yeoman work, up and down the lineup, to skate off with a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
Philadelphia held Boston to 20 shots on goal for the game. David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand were kept off the scoresheet. After grinding through two very tight-checking periods on both sides, the Flyers stepped up offensively. Even as Boston came back from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1, the Flyers kept coming at the Bruins. Ultimately, the Flyers found a way to win. Forwards and defensemen alike, line after line, player after player, contributed to the win in some way.
"Total team effort" is a cliché, but that's exactly how the Flyers won this game. They also got a strong game in net, as needed from Samuel Ersson (18 saves on 20 shots).
Offensively, Travis Konecny tallied power play and even strength goals to reach the 30-goal mark for the second straight season. Tyson Foerster (18th goal of the season) sniped the game-winner from the left circle at 18:31 of the third period. Foerster, Scott Laughton, Morgan Frost, Owen Tippett and Ryan Poehling chipped in one assist apiece.
Tippett (three goals, six assists, nine points, plus-eight) and Frost (three goals, five assists, eight points, plus-seven) each have compiled six-game point streaks: new career-high streaks for both players.
Boston got third period goals from Justin Brazeau (5th) and Danton Heinen (14th, four points in his last five games) tallied once apiece to draw even from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1. Linus Ullmark stopped 26 of 29 Flyers shots in a losing cause.
On special teams, the Flyers were 1-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
For an in-depth recap, period-by-period synopses, analysis, statistics and more, see the Postgame 5 on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com:
Click here.
With the win, the Flyers (36-26-9) moved four points ahead of the Washington Capitals (34-26-9) in the chase for third place -- automatic playoff position in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals hold two games in hand. However, the Flyers hold both primary (28-27 regulation wins) and secondary (32-30 ROW) tiebreaker advantages in the event of a points tie.
On Sunday, the Capitals have a 12:30 p.m. EDT home game against the Winnipeg Jets (44-21-5). The Flyers will host the Florida Panthers (45-20-4) at the Wells Fargo Center at 6:00 p.m. EDT.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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