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7:00 P.M.: Flyers, Bruins Set To Do Battle In Game 2
(Sports Network) - Marc Savard and the Boston Bruins will try to build off the momentum from a thrilling overtime victory when they host the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at TD Garden.
Savard, playing for the first time since suffering a concussion on March 7, scored the game-winner 13:52 into overtime, leading the sixth-seeded Bruins to a 5-4 victory in the opener of this best-of-seven series on Saturday.
Boston earned the home victory despite blowing a 4-2 lead in the third period, and tonight, the Bruins will try to take a 2-0 lead before the series shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4.
The seventh-seeded Flyers, meanwhile, will attempt to bounce back and earn a split in Beantown. Philadelphia, which will host Game 3 on Wednesday, is now 2-2 on the road in the postseason after going 17-21-3 as the away club during the regular season.
Boston was 18-17-6 as the host during the season and has a perfect 4-0 record at home so far in the playoffs. The Bruins won all three home games while eliminating Buffalo in six games during the opening round.
On Saturday, Savard took a rolling puck in the right circle after Philadelphia was unable to clear and rocketed a slapshot above Brian Boucher's glove into the top right corner.
Patrice Bergeron and Miroslav Satan each recorded a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who are 37-18 all-time in series when winning the opening game. Steve Begin and David Krejci also scored, while Dennis Wideman had three assists.
“I think (Savard) played great hockey,” Krejci said. “I can’t remember the last time he played like that. I’m talking about the overtime. It was huge. A huge goal, and it’s a good win. We have the first one, but the next one is going to be much harder.”
Tuukka Rask stopped 32 shots for his fifth career playoff victory.
Mike Richards tallied a goal and two assists for the Flyers, who have lost seven of their last eight Game 1s. Philadelphia did take the series opener in the first round against New Jersey, en route to winning that series in five games.
Chris Pronger and Danny Briere added a goal and an assist apiece, while Ryan Parent also scored in defeat.
The Flyers, who were playing their first game since eliminating the Devils on April 22, fell behind 2-0 in the opening period and were forced to chase Boston all afternoon. The Bruins went ahead 4-2 on Krejci's goal at 7:25 of the third period, but Philadelphia received goals by Pronger and Briere in the final 10 minutes of regulation to force OT.
“It’s one game,” Briere said. “Obviously, we are not happy about the way we played in the first period, giving them that 2-0 lead. But that’s hockey. It’s one game. Get ready and bounce back. We were about to win one on their ice and in the first two, and we’re still in good shape. That is going to be our goal for the next game.”
Boucher, who kept his club in the extra session with 14 saves, stopped 41- of-46 shots in all for Philadelphia.
The Bruins did lose forward Marco Sturm for the remainder of the playoffs with a knee injury suffered in the first period of Saturday's game. Sturm, who failed to register a point in Boston's first seven playoff games, led the Bruins with 22 goals this season and added 15 assists for 37 points.
Boston and the Flyers are meeting in the playoffs for the first time since 1978. Each team has won twice in the four all-time playoff series between the clubs. The Flyers won the most notable matchup, beating Boston in six games to win the Stanley Cup in 1974. The Bruins have won the last two encounters, including a five-game series win over Philly the last time clubs met in the 1978 Stanley Cup semifinals.
The Flyers and B’s split four games this year in a season series that included Boston’s 2-1 overtime victory in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park. Both the Bruins and Flyers had 2-1-1 records in the series.
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