NHL scores 2016: ‘Wednesday Night Rivalry’ comes alive in Philadelphia

Isn't it great to have a Wednesday Night Rivalry game that feels like an actual rivalry? Often, the NHL schedule makers have to scramble to find one game on the docket for Wednesday night that fits the bill of a "rivalry." The gimmick mostly involves a lot of big-market teams, but not all of those really translate well into what is supposed to be the NHL's roughest, toughest matchups of the week.

Not so fast, say the Flyers and Bruins, who bruised their way to 20 total penalty minutes with a game that saw the lead change three times before Philadelphia pulled out the win in the third period. It'd be unfair to say the tone was set when Brayden Schenn lit up Torey Krug in the first period, though that was most certainly a good start to the match.

In fact, the tone was set way back on June 29 when the Flyers traded pest Zac Rinaldo to the Bruins for a third round draft pick. Wednesday's game was probably circled on the calendar for many fans and players, most likely including Rinaldo himself in an attempt to show up the team that traded him away after he left it all on the ice in Philadelphia.

Rinaldo was a non-factor in the game, outside of being booed by the Philly Faithful every time he touched the puck. Instead, the stars for the Flyers stole the show, as Philadelphia's top line of Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Jake Voracek contributed on all three of the home team's goals. Steve Mason locked down the net once more for Philadelphia as he has allowed just five goals in his first three starts of 2016 for the Flyers' fourth straight win.

Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 1

Philadelphia Flyers 3, Boston Bruins 2

Calgary Flames 6, Florida Panthers 0

Anaheim Ducks 4, Ottawa Senators 1

1. Columbus wins the Seth Jones trade!

Not really, since Ryan Johansen scored a goal on his first shot with Nashville earlier this week. Still, Seth Jones is now on the board for the Blue Jackets after this assist was key to setting up Columbus' first goal of the evening. The assist is the first point Jones has had since Dec. 28, so hopefully getting the primary apple on Boone Jenner's tally sparks something under the 19-year-old.

2. Sam Bennett has five goals in his last four periods of hockey

Just days after tossing the monkey off his back to end his 18-game scoreless drought, Sam Bennett netted four goals against the Panthers to send Florida home with their first regulation loss in over a month. Bennett scored the first hat trick of his career just 17 minutes into the Flames' opening period against the Panthers. His first came 56 seconds in while his finisher came just past the 17-minute mark. Bennett even chased goaltender Roberto Luongo, who was finished after allowing four goals on 15 shots in the first period.

Not only did @SBennett93 score four goals, he also saved the best for last. https://t.co/IpWD9ai6EH

— NHL (@NHL) January 14, 2016

3. Another youngster also ended a dry spell

A 21-game goalless drought came to an end Wednesday for Senators forward Curtis Lazar, who tallied his third of the year on the breakaway that tied Ottawa's game against Anaheim in the dying minutes of the second period. Quite an awful Ryan Getzlaf turnover preceded the play, but he made up for it on assisting the Ducks game winner.

Defenseman Mark Streit picked up his own rebound to put the Flyers over the Bruins just moments after Wayne Simmonds tied the game for Philadelphia.

...#Flames @SBennett93 has scored 5 goals in the last 88:33 after scoring 5 goals in his first 39 #NHL games.

— Derek Wills (@Fan960Wills) January 14, 2016

• The Devils will lose fourth-line bruiser Bobby Farnham to a four-game suspension after his hit on Blues' Dmitrij Jaskin.