Savard took a feed from Dennis Wideman on the top of the faceoff circle to the left of Brian Boucher and rifled it home for the game-winner in his first game since suffering a Grade 2 concussion on March 7. Zdeno Chara had the other helper.
The Bruins now lead the series 1-0 with Game 2 here at TD Garden on Monday night.
Overtime, 9:12, 4-4: Marc Savard just tried to sneak one by Brian Boucher on a wrap-around but to no avail. Savard has been seeing more shifts here in overtime after playing only 12:27 in regulation. Claude Julien may have the perfect overtime weapon in here with Savard's fresh legs.
Overtime, 15:33, 4-4: Tuukka Rask just denied Daniel Carcillo on a breakaway. End to end action here now.
Overtime, 17:48, 4-4: Underway in overtime and the Bruins have come out firing with a flurry of chances early. But we remain tied at four.
End of regulation, 4-4: The Flyers just wouldn't go away. Three times they trailed by two goals and three times they cut the lead to one. But they didn't stop on the third comeback and tied the game with 3:23 left. As a result, the Bruins are headed to overtime for the second time in the playoffs. They beat the Sabres 3-2 on a Miroslav Satan overtime winner in Game 4.
The Bruins are actually lucky they came out of regulation tied as the Flyers were buzzing and clearly have taken this game over. Hopefully this intermission helps the Bruins regroup.
Mike Richards has to be the MVP of the game so far, with Daniel Briere not too far behind. Briere of course tied the game but Richards has been everywhere, with a goal and two assists.
On the Bruins side, Patrice Bergeron has been great but there haven't been many following him, with the exception of maybe Mark Recchi and David Krejci.
Third period, 3:23, 4-4: Daniel Briere has tied the game with a beautiful end-to-end rush and this building is silent. Dennis Wideman got turned inside-out on that play and the Bruins need to regroup quickly here as the Flyers have stolen away momentum.
That is Briere's second point of the game. Chris Pronger got his second point of the game with a helper and Matt Carle had the secondary assist.
Third period, 7:23, Bruins 4-3: Mike Richards just got his third point of the game and the Flyers captain has helped his team get right back in it with a power-play goal. Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell got the helpers.
Hartnell got away with obvious goalie interference when he bumped Tuukka Rask right before the goal.
Rask should've just punched Hartnell like Tim Thomas did in the Winter Classic. If you're going to give up the goal anyways, get in a good jab!
Third period, 8:46, Bruins 4-2: Mark Recchi and Chris Pronger just got into it in front of the Flyers' net and the TD garden crowd broke out into a "Recchi, Recchi" chant. If the Bruins don't find a way to resign Recchi next season, they're crazy!
Recchi unfortunately got the extra penalty and the Flyers are on the power play.
Third period, 10:32, Bruins 4-2: The Bruins have apparently rattled Brian Boucher as he just took a roughing penalty to nullify the Flyers' power play.
Third period, 11:32, Bruins 4-2: The Flyers are on a power play thanks to a Zdeno Chara holding call.
Third period, 12:35, Bruins 4-2: David Krejci just scored an amazing goal to make it 4-2 Bruins. Krejci took a feed from Miroslav Satan and did some nifty stick-handling around Brian Boucher for the goal.
Milan Lucic had the other helper. Krejci now has three goals in his last two games and Satan has a goal and an assist in this game.
Third period, 13:55, Bruins 3-2: You have to really give it to the TD Garden crowd as they have been a factor throughout the playoffs with constant cheering. Good to see this place rocking again!
Third period, 14:37, Bruins 3-2: Talking to Andy Brickley earlier and he likes what he has seen from Marc Savard. "He isn't backing off out there and he is aware of his surroundings," Brick said.
Third period, 17:19, Bruins 3-2: Underway here in the third period as the Bruins try to take Game 1 from the Flyers.
End of second period, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins still have the lead 3-2 but they seem to be doing everything possible to relinquish it. Boston played some undisciplined hockey in the middle frame and instead of having a commanding lead as they could have, they're clinging to the one-goal lead.
The Bruins started to let up a bit at the end of the first period and it carried over to start the second as they allowed the Flyers to get back into the game on the Ryan Parent goal. The B's seemed to be back when Miroslav Satan netted a power-play goal but Chris Pronger beat Tuukka Rask on the power play and the Bruins find themselves up by one as we head towards the final frame.
The Bruins need to regain their composure as well. A veteran sitting Adam McQuaid down for a chat right now may help as the rookie took two bad penalties, one of which led to a Flyers goal.
Second period, 2:43, Bruins 3-2: Adam McQuaid is suffering from some rookie mental lapses here as he just took a dumb interference penalty and the Flyers are right back on the power play. They're 1-for-2.
Second period, 4:12, Bruins 3-2: Chris Pronger has pulled the Flyers back to within one with a power-play goal. Kimmo Timonen and Mike Richards had the helpers.
That is Richards' second assist of the game. The goal is also the first power-play goal the Bruins have allowed, snapping their streak of kills at 21.
Second period, 4:40, Bruins 3-1: Adam McQuaid just got called for hooking and it will be a 5-on-3 Flyers advantage for 17 seconds.
Second period, 6:24, Bruins 3-1: Matt Hunwick just got called for holding and the Flyers are on their first power play.
Second period, 8:17, Bruins 3-1: Miroslav Satan just scored a power-play goal and the TD Garden is "Dancing On The Devil's Floor" as the B's take a 3-1 lead.
Johnny Boychuk and Dennis Wideman had the helpers. That's Satan's third goal of the playoffs and Wideman's second assist of the game.
Second period, 10:02, Bruins 2-1: Things are getting rough out there as Marc Savard and Daniel Carcillo just traded some pleasantries and Carcillo actually put his glove around Savard's neck. That prompted Savard's teammates to jump in and restore order. The Bruins end up with a power play as Mike Richards got called for roughing along with Carcillo and Savard. They're 0-for-1 on the power play so far.
The Bruins better wake up as the Flyers appear to have shaken off that rust.
Second period, 12:22, Bruins 2-1: The Flyers have cut the Bruins' lead in half on a goal by Ryan Parent. Arron Asham and Mike Richards had the helpers. The goal came just as the Bruins' power play ended.
Second period, 14:47, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins get the first power play of the game as Mike Richards is off for interference.
Second period, 16:42, Bruins 2-0: Vladimir Sobotka is back and just took a shift.
Second period, 19:11, Bruins 2-0: Underway in the second period as the Bruins hold a 2-0 lead. No word yet on Vladimir Sobotka who is not on the bench or ice. Marco Sturm is gone for the game.
End of first period, Bruins 2-0: A great opening period to Game 1 and the series by the Bruins as they take a 2-0 lead into the dressing room on goals by Patrice Bergeron and Steve Begin.
The Bruins showed the same energy and tenacity that they showed for much of the six-game series win over Buffalo but towards the end of the period, they appeared a bit winded as they didn't have a shot on net in the final five minutes. They must harness that momentum and keep it throughout the remainder of the game.
Marc Savard didn't look the least bit hesitant or out of place in six shifts and 3:36 of ice time in his first game action since March 7. Claude Julien should continue to monitor him closely but it's great to see him back out there and the fans here at TD Garden have let him know that with a standing ovation every time he stepped on the ice.
The Bruins however, didn't get out of that period unscathed injury wise as Marc Sturm was lost to injury and Vlad Sobotka did not return after he crashed into the net mid-way through the period.
First period, 2:42, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins have really come out with emotion here at TD Garden and need to maintain that. The Flyers may be a bit flat due to a nine-day layoff but as the game goes on, their rest may become an advantage.
First period, 7:06, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins just took a two-goal lead on a great goal and play by Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron won the faceoff to the left of Brian Boucher, got the puck back to Dennis Wideman at the point and then back-handed the rebound of Wideman's shot to beat Boucher.
Bergeron now has a goal and an assist.
First period, 9:35, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins — as proven by Vlad Sobotka's rush to the net — are really crashing the net as well and Brian Boucher has had to take cover numerous times thus far. Right now the referees are letting them play but we'll see how long that lasts.
First period, 10:44, Bruins 1-0: Vladimir Sobotka and Ryan Parent just went crashing into Brian Boucher but thankfully all were OK.
First period, 11:39, Bruins 1-0: Marc Sturm will not return to this game. No word on his injury.
First period, 12:32, Bruins 1-0: Tuukka Rask looks cool as a cucumber again in net and has withstood some heavy traffic in the crease. That's to be expected with the Flyers' crash-and-bang style but the rookie isn't rattled at all.
First period, 17:21, Bruins 1-0: Steve Begin, skating in the injured Marco Sturm's spot with Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi just gave the Bruins an early 1-0 lead with his first goal of the playoffs.
Bergeron and Recchi had the helpers. That was also Begin's first career playoff goal in his 30th playoff game.
First period, 18:45: Marc Savard just came on the ice to a standing ovation. This place is loud for an early start!
First period, 19:19: We are underway here and Marco Sturm had to be helped off the ice after injuring himself trying to hit Matt Carle. Just not a good year for Sturm.
12:35 p.m.: Almost ready for faceoff here at TD Garden in Game 1 between the Bruins and Flyers. Shawn Thornton skated in the pre-game skate but as expected he is a healthy scratch for Game 1. Here's the lineup:
Bruins
Forwards
Marco Sturm–Patrice Bergeron–Mark Recchi
Milan Lucic–David Krejci–Miroslav Satan
Daniel Paille–Marc Savard–Michael Ryder
Blake Wheeler–Vladimir Sobotka–Steve Begin
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara–Johnny Boychuk
Matt Hunwick–Dennis Wideman
Andrew Ference–Adam McQuaid
Goaltenders
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas
Flyers
Forwards
Dan Carcillo–Mike Richards–Claude Giroux
Ville Leino–Danny Briere–Scott Hartnell
James van Riemsdyk–Jared Ross–Arron Asham
Darroll Powe–Blair Betts–Andreas Nodl
Defenseman
Chris Pronger–Matt Carle
Kimmo Timonen–Braydon Coburn
Ryan Parent–Lukas Krajieck
Goaltenders
Brian Boucher
Johan Backlund
10:05 a.m: Getting closer to faceoff for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series between the Flyers and Bruins. Just came across this piece by Chuck Gormley of the Courier-Post regarding Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette who has a built-in incentive to beat the Bruins despite growing up a Bruins fan.
Laviolette coached the Providence Bruins to the 1999 Calder Cup championship and then was assistant coach with the parent club under Mike Keenan. When Keenan was relieved of his coaching duties, the Bruins chose Robbie Ftorek instead of the Franklin, MA native that had proven himself in Providence. Laviolette went on to coach the Islanders and then the Hurricanes, with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2006.
Speaking of Mike Keenan, it appears he is interested in the Devils' vacant coaching job.
Finally, on a non-related topic, Don Cherry let his feelings be known on reading emails from disgruntled fanatics on Hockey Night In Canada last night.
8:05 a.m.: Amazingly, the sixth-seeded Bruins start the second round of the playoffs on Saturday (12:30, NBC) at the TD Garden and will have home advantage over the seventh-seeded Flyers. The Bruins earned their spot by beating the third-seeded Sabres in six games, while the Flyers upset the second-seeded Devils in five games.
The longtime playoff rivals renew their rivalry in what promises to be a physical series. But the Bruins will also get some skill back in the lineup, with the long-awaited return of center Marc Savard. Savard will be playing his first game since March 7, when he suffered a Grade 2 concussion. He has been skating for just under two weeks now and was medically cleared on Monday.
"I can’t wait to step on the ice [on Saturday]," Savard said after Friday's practice. “I’ve missed the game and I want to get in there and help us keep going.”
The Bruins will also look to rookie goaltender Tuukka Rask, who was splendid in his first playoff series, going 4-2 with a 2.18 GAA and a .927 save percentage.
The second round is here. The playoff beards are in full force, and the TD Garden will be rocking as the Bruins try to win another round and advance to the conference finals for the first time since 1992.
