The Bruins made a valiant effort to win this one and end the series, coming back from a 3-1 deficit and then a 4-3 deficit, but they looked tired in overtime and the Flyers just seemed to have more energy. So we're headed back to Boston.
Overtime, 6:34, 4-4: The Bruins failed to convert on that power play and are now 1-for-4.
Overtime, 9:24, 4-4: The Bruins will get the first power play of overtime, as Darroll Powe is off to the sin bin for boarding after laying a hit-from-behind on Marc Savard.
Overtime, 11:22, 4-4: James van Riemsdyk and Ville Leino have had the best chances thus far in overtime. The Bruins don't seem to have that urgency they had in the overtime of Game 1.
Overtime, 17:01, 4-4: Tuukka Rask just made a great save but took a hard shot high. Thankfully, he appears to be OK.
Overtime, 18:41, 4-4: Under way in overtime here in Game 4.
Third intermission, 4-4: The Bruins really deserve loads of credit for coming back in this one. They are just one of the most resilient teams this scribe has covered, and they're never out of it.
Lots of that has to do with having a guy like Mark Recchi around. His passion, grit and leadership rubs off on everyone, and that's why with an overtime goal, the Bruins will be headed to the conference finals.
Third period, 31.5 seconds, 4-4: And a miracle, they give us.
Mark Recchi ties the game at 4 almost immediately following the timeout. Recchi took a feed just inside the right circle and rocketed it over Boucher's shoulder so hard, it bounced back out of the goal again.
Patrice Bergeron and Dennis Wideman had the helpers.
That is Recchi's second goal of the game, and he is a miracle as this 42-year-old just looks younger every game! Recchi has to be one of the best acquisitions Peter Chiarelli has made.
Third period, 38.6 seconds, Flyers 4-3: The Flyers have taken a timeout and this series looks like it's headed back to Boston. No brooms tonight unless the B's pull a miracle.
Third period, 1:22, Flyers 4-3: Tuukka Rask has been pulled for the extra attacker.
Third period, 5:40, Flyers 4-3: Ville Leino has regained the lead for the Flyers with a tip-in of a Chris Pronger blast.
Danny Briere got the other helper. The Flyers are doing a great job down low, and the Bruins' defense needs to clear them out. Vlad Sobotka has returned, by the way.
Third period, 6:34, 3-3: The Bruins killed off that Zdeno Chara penalty and the Flyers are 0-for-1. Ironically, Dennis Wideman was punched in the face by Arron Asham right at the beginning of that power play and there was no call. Wideman looked like Aaron Ward last season when Scott Walker tagged Ward with a sucker-punch. Luckily, he didn't end up like Ward.
Third period, 10:22, 3-3: Wow, can Scott Hartnell embellish! Zdeno Chara gave him a facewash and Hartnell sold it as a punch. Chara is off for roughing and the Flyers have a power play.
Third period, 10:37, 3-3: Vladimir Sobotka has not returned after leaving with an apparent injury late in the second period. No word on the injury, but that's the end of me praising any Bruins. I praised Tuukka Rask earlier and then he let in a softie, and then after praising Sobotka, he goes down with an injury.
That is a tough one to take, too, with David Krejci already out. The Bruins' depth at center is really being tested.
Third period, 16:11, 3-3: Milan Lucic has tied the game for the Bruins with a tip-in of a Dennis Wideman shot on the power play. Marc Savard had the other helper.
Great job by Lucic to create traffic and tip it in. This crowd is deflated and the Flyers are on their heels now.
Third period, 17:01, Flyers 3-2: The Bruins are going onto their third power play. They're 0-for-2. By the way, that Pittsburgh scout said that he thinks it's imperative the Bruins win tonight because of David Krejci's absence. This is a banged up, short-handed B's squad and it could use the rest.
Third period, 19:52, Flyers 3-2: Under way in the final frame here as the B's try to come back and sweep this series.
Second intermission, Flyers 3-2: The Bruins still have a chance to come out of here with the win, but they will need to control the tempo more and keep it down in the Flyers' zone. Brian Boucher looks shaky, and obviously, Boston can get to him like Vlad Sobotka did on that second goal.
A lot of people in the press box saying it's odd to see Tuukka Rask out of the net, all over the place "like Tim Thomas," who receives tons of heat for his erratic style. But maybe it's not always the goalie — maybe it's the defense in front of him.
Lots of ex-Flyers here in the press box, and it was great to see Keith Primeau again. One of the game's classiest.
End of second period, Flyers 3-2: The Flyers are doing a great job of keeping their season alive right now, but the Bruins are only trailing by one and can end it if they pick it up out there and skate better. Tuukka Rask bailed them out a few times at the end of the second period and seems to be back on his game. Let's see if the rest of the team can say the same at the end of the final frame.
Second period, 2:29, Flyers 2-1: If the Bruins can tie it here before the period ends, that would really deflate the Flyers, who have outplayed the B's for most of this game.
Second period, 5:06, Flyers 3-2: Vlad Sobotka is playing one heck of a game right now, and the Bruins will need that from here on in with David Krejci gone for the playoffs with a dislocated wrist.
Second period, 9:04, Flyers 3-2: The Bruins just pulled back within one on a very odd goal. Michael Ryder shot the puck off the end boards, it bounced to the side of the net, but as Brian Boucher tried to cover it up, Vlad Sobotka came in and appeared to poke it loose. Apparently, he never touched it. Matt Hunwick and Blake Wheeler get the helpers. But Sobotka deserves loads of credit there.
Second period, 9:45, Flyers 3-1: The Flyers fans are getting on Tuukka Rask right now, chanting his name. Rask is definitely fighting the puck and his positioning is off right now. But hey, he's the reason the B's are even here at all.
Second period, 11:25, Flyers 3-1: Claude Giroux just padded the Flyers' lead after taking a kick-feed from Scott Hartnell. Hartnell rushed the net and kicked a loose puck to Giroux for the goal. Matt Carle had the other helper.
Second period, 14:28, Flyers 2-1: Daniel Carcillo just went off for cross-checking and the B's have a chance to tie it up.
Second period, 15:32, Flyers 2-1: The Flyers just took the lead, as Chris Pronger just blasted on in from the point to beat Tuukka Rask. It appeared to be tipped by Mark Stuart and change directions, but Rask looked lost on that goal.
Second period, 16:17, 1-1: The Bruins failed to convert on the power play and are 0-for-1 tonight.
Second period, 19:29, 1-1: Under way in the second period, and the Bruins get an early power play, compliments of Danny Briere, who is out for high-sticking.
First intermission, 1-1: Not exactly a great period by the Bruins, and Tuukka Rask can be better than he was at the end of the period. But the good news is that the Flyers weren't at their best either and, in this scribe's view, are ripe for the sweep.
Had good conversation just now with a Penguins scout and he said he's very happy for Miro Satan and the success he's having in the playoffs. This scout said that Satan was a "good soldier" last year when he got sent down to Wilkes-Barre (AHL) and helped a lot of the young kids there.
End of first period, 1-1: After withstanding an early onslaught of pressure from Philly, the Bruins calmed down, got their neutral zone play going and took a 1-0 lead. But during a late 4-on-4, the Flyers' best skaters took over there and this game is tied at one after one.
First period, 06.1 seconds, 1-1: Tuukka Rask is very obviously disappointed in himself after watching that goal go by. He leans over and pounds his fists onto the ice. Looked like he didn't even see the puck till it was behind him in the net.
First period, 53.3 seconds, 1-1: Daniel Briere just tied the game for the Flyers, beating Tuukka Rask with a laser. Claude Giroux and Matt Carle got the helpers. Tough goal for Bruins to give up and it has woken up the fans here.
First period, 1:56, Bruins 1-0: Scott Hartnell and Vladdy Sobotka just got into it and will head to the sin bin for roughing. Love Sobotka's grit more and more.
First period, 4:23, Bruins 1-0: Daniel Paille sent Patrice Bergeron in alone, and Bergeron was stopped by Brian Boucher — but Mark Recchi, as always, was there to pick up the rebound and get his fifth of the playoffs putting the Bruins up 1-0.
Great job by Paille on the pass to Bergeron and, of course, to the "Recching Ball" for being in the right spot.
First period, 6:02: Milan Lucic and Daniel Carcillo just got into a shoving match, and for some unknown reason, the linesman broke it up during play and before a whistle. Let them go at it!
First period, 9:02: The Bruins killed off that Lucic penalty the way they need to play 5-on-5 — with tenacity and heart.
First period, 11:36: The Flyers will get the first power play of the night, as Milan Lucic is off to the sin bin for high-sticking. The Bruins really need to tighten up their neutral zone play. So far most of the game has been in the Bruins zone and that's why.
First period, 13:01: Tuukka Rask is showing his acrobatics, as he just made some amazing saves, one without a stick. The Finnish rookie continues to impress.
First period, 14:03: Tuukka Rask looks like he's in the zone early as he just snagged a Ville Leino wrister.
First period 15:42: It will be interesting to see how well Milan Lucic, Marc Savard and Miro Satan mesh together tonight with David Krejci gone from that line. Speaking of Krejci, he is here tonight watching from the press box.
First period, 17:35: Vladimir Sobotka almost had a breakaway but stumbled as he tried to catch up to a breakout pass.
First period, 19:36: We're under way here in Game 4 as the Bruins try to sweep the Flyers.
7:10 p.m.: The Flyers came out on the ice to the Rocky theme song, and fans watched a video of the late Kate Smith belting out "God Bless America." The lineups were handed out and Mark Stuart and Trent Whitfield are in it.
6:55 p.m.: Claude Julien may be playing some mind games with Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette. The Bruins and Flyers just finished their pregame skates, and on the ice for the Bruins were defensemen Andy Wozniewski and Mark Stuart. Also at the forward position was Shawn Thornton, Brad Marchand and Trent Whitfield.
We will see whose playing from those five when the teams return for faceoff shortly.
2:00 p.m.: Claude Julien confirmed that Mark Stuart has been medically cleared to play and is a "game-time" decision. He also said that Trent Whitfield is "probably in". Shawn Thorntone will also play despite "exercising his option" for the optional skate. Whitfield and Thornton will be on the fourth line with Steve Begin. As for who takes David Krejci's spot between Miro Satan and Milan Lucic, it appears to be Marc Savard. Here's the expected lineup:
Forwards
Daniel Paille–Patrice Bergeron–Mark Recchi
Milan Lucic–Marc Savard–Miroslav Satan
Blake Wheeler–Vladimir Sobotka–Michael Ryder
Steve Begin–Trent Whitfield–Shawn Thornton
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara–Johnny Boychuk
Matt Hunwick–Dennis Wideman
Andrew Ference–Mark Stuart*
Goaltenders
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas
11:56 a.m.: Mark Stuart skated with Andrew Ference this morning, and he looks ready to go for the Bruins. There's been no official word, but we'll have the latest as soon as it's available.
11:08 a.m.: Greetings from Philadelphia and the Wachovia Center, where the Flyers are having possibly their last game-day skate of the season. That's because the Bruins have a chance to close out this series and sweep the Flyers in Game 4 on Friday night.
Boston admittedly didn't have its best game in Game 3 but still won 4-1. Now they will have to face a Flyers team that desperately wants another practice, game-day skate and a Game 5 in Boston on Monday. But the B's would prefer to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the famous May 10, Bobby Orr goal that won the 1970 Stanley Cup team from the comforts of their home while preparing for either their arch-rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, or defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Bruins will have to accomplish that feat without the services of crafty center David Krejci, who suffered a dislocated wrist in Game 3 and is out for the remainder of the season. They will also be missing defenseman Adam McQuaid, who is out with a lower body injury. Mark Stuart is expected to make his return to the lineup in McQuaid's spot but that has not been confirmed. Also not decided yet is whether Trent Whitfield or Brad Marchand will replace Krejci. Regardless of who steps in, the Bruins have proven they can battle injuries and adversity and they're not about to stop now.
This will be another hard-fought battle as the Bruins try to advance and end the Flyers season. We will have all the action here, with updates leading into Game 4, so check back and have a great Friday!
