Tuukka Rask Big, But Bruins Fall 4-3 in Shootout to Flyers

It was clear that the Bruins wanted a second straight win and they fought hard for it. But you can't always get what you want.

After coming from behind to tie the game at three in the second period, the Bruins took the Flyers into a shootout before ultimately dropping a tough 4-3 contest to Philadelphia.

Chris Pronger struck first for the Flyers, before Bruins defenseman Derek Morris equalized five and half minutes later. Matt Hunwick put the B's up in the second before Darroll Powe tied it just over a minute later. Arron Asham put the Flyers back up with just under seven minutes remaining in the second, but Steve Begin scored his second goal in two nights to knot things up for the Bruins.

After a scoreless third, it went to a shootout. After Danny Briere and Mike Richards missed in the tiebreaker, Philly's Claude Giroux scored the game-winner on a nine-foot wrist shot that eluded Tuukka Rask, who otherwise stood on his head for the Bruins, making 36 saves on the night.

Flyers 4, Bruins 3
Oct. 22, 2009
Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
Live Blog | Box Score | Recap

Headliner: After the Bruins made a huge statement by coming from behind to take
a 2-1 lead, the Flyers came back with two goals in about four minutes to seize the momentum again in the second period. Amidst
congestion in front of the Bruins' goal, Rask made two swift saves, but after Mark Stuart took an elbow to the face and went down in
front of the goal, Rask allowed a quick wrist shot by Powe to sneak
by him.

With just under seven minutes left in the frame and the
score knotted at two, Arron Asham sent a 40-foot slapper past Rask to
give Philly the 3-2 advantage.

It looked like the Bruins' Mr. Hyde
side had reared its ugly head once again, but three minutes later, Begin's second goal in as
many nights evened the score and gave the Bruins a
new lease on the game.

Grinder: The Bruins' penalty kill and power play — both of which struggled mightily throughout the first two weeks of the season — were admirable on Thursday night. Boston went 3-for-3 on the PK and scored on its first power play, courtesy of a 59-foot slap shot by Morris that tied the score at 1 with 2:54 left in the first period.

Weak Link: After putting up a lackluster effort in the first and a ferocious fight throughout the second and third periods, the Bruins fell flat against Flyers goaltender Ray Emery in the shootout. Blake Wheeler and Patrice Bergeron couldn't get anything past Emery, and after Giroux scored, Michael Ryder had a chance to salvage the game and could not, clipping the post with his medium-range wrister.

Key Moment: The Bruins went on the power play with 1:37 left in the contest after Simon Gagne was whistled for hooking. After a plethora of unsuccessful shots by the Bruins and a bad cross-ice pass, Jeff Carter came up with the puck and took off on a breakaway. Rask made the save of the game on a 12-foot backhanded shot to preserve the score with 45 seconds remaining in regulation.

What's Next: On Saturday, the B's play their third game in four days, hitting the road to face Ottawa. Prior to Thursday evening's games, the Sens sat in second place in the Northeast Division, just one point behind Buffalo — and two points ahead of Boston.

Right-winger Daniel Alfredsson leads the club with three goals and six assists, while Milan Michalek leads the team in goals with four. He earned his first NHL hat trick on Oct. 15 against the Lightning.