It's only 10 games into the season but it feels like the Bruins (7-2-1) have done something remarkable in basically every win so far. Tonight at the Wells Fargo Center, it was another epic comeback as Boston trailed 3-1 more than halfway through the third period yet somehow rallied to tie it up very late then win it in overtime thanks to David Pastrnak's ninth career hat trick, three straight power play goals and captain Patrice Bergeron's (3 assists) overtime game-winner. Philadelphia (7-2-2) fell out of first place in the East Division after its third loss in a row against the B's. The Flyers must be wondering what they have to do to beat them, apparently they didn't catch any of Boston's weekend series in DC where the Black and Gold came back from down three goals in each contest.
Pasta is a freak since he followed up Monday's two goal effort with a hat trick. He's only played three games this season but he already has piled up seven points (5 goals, 2 assists). His fingerprints were all over this win since he scored 12 seconds into the game, cut it to 3-2 with a power play goal then tied it with goaltender Tuukka Rask (22 saves, 4-1-1) off for an extra skater with 15 seconds left in regulation. If that wasn't enough, he had the primary assist on Bergeron's goal 31 seconds into overtime that sealed another incredible victory for the Bruins.
Philly is a good team but they are clearly shook by the B's. Between losing two games in Boston two weekends ago and this evening, they had regained their balance and reeled off four straight wins. Outside of the Bruins, they are 7-1-0 against everyone else thus far in 2021. It's silly to rank losses but I would venture a guess that this was the toughest one to swallow since when you lead 3-1 in the third period at home (even if there are no fans), that has to be a win no matter what. BC's Kevin Hayes continues to play well against his hometown team as he tied it at one with a one-timer at 15:29 of the second period. His sixth goal of the season was assisted by defensemen Travis Sanheim and Philippe Myers.
Tied 1-1 going into the third period, the Flyers were by far the better team to start the frame as right wing Jakub Voracek put Philadelphia up 2-1 at 1:03. His third goal of the season was assisted by Sanheim and UNH's James van Riemsdyk (who has also been a Bruins killer for years now). BU's Joel Farabee was coming off his first career NHL hat trick and he gave Philly a two-goal lead with a thunderous one-timer on a two-on-one with center Scott Laughton at 8:41. JVR had the second assist on Farabee's sixth goal of the season. Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (31 saves, 4-2-2) has been in net for each of these losses against the B's but you can't pin this one on him. Blame his stupid teammates who took three penalties in the third period alone which when you are facing one of the top power plays in the league, is simply a recipe for disaster.
Pasta's first goal looked like a set play as he took a stretch pass from defenseman Charlie McAvoy then went around Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and drove to the net before jamming the puck in. Bergeron's had the secondary assist on the second fastest goal in the NHL this season to start a game. His second goal was a thing of beauty as left wing Nick Ritchie did a touch pass to Bergeron in front of the net and Bergy made the unselfish decision to slide it to Pasta who roofed it at 12:05. The hat trick was more about a lucky bounce that enabled the puck to get to him but he still had to have the magic hands to bat it out of the air and into the goal with a bunch of other bodies around him. Left wing Brad Marchand and Bergeron had the assists on the tying tally. The Flyers have nobody but themselves to blame as Laughton was called for interference with less than eight seconds left in the third period.
These teams meet again on Friday (7, NESN) in Philly and thanks to Buffalo's Covid-19 outbreak (they would have played in Boston on Saturday and Monday), it'll be the Bruins' last game until next Wednesday at the Rangers (3-4-2). The Flyers have lost in a shootout, in a blowout and in overtime vs. the Bruins this season so what's next on their bingo card? Perhaps losing a one-goal game in regulation? We'll see if they have the mental toughness to respond to another brutal loss to their East Division rivals. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak (3-0-1) should get the start for Boston and maybe Philadelphia will see if its backup goalie Brian Elliott (3-0-0) can give them a spark. I'm guessing that Hart could use a day off against the B's but hey, what do I know?
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