Steven Kampfer’s Late Strike Lifts Bruins to Wild 7-5 Win Over Flyers at Garden

Final, Bruins 7-5: And this see-saw battle ends with a Bruins victory after Greg Campbell ices it with an empty-net goal with 6.8 seconds left.

The Bruins rallied twice from a goal down in the third period to pull out the win over the Eastern Conference-leading Flyers for Boston's third straight victory.

The Bruins got goals from seven different players and points from 13, including six players with two each.

Boston will look to make it it four straight on Saturday when they host Pittsburgh, the club they began this run against with a four-goal outburst in the final 3:23 on Monday.

Third Period, 18:46, Bruins 6-5: We may not need overtime afetr all, as Steven Kampfer puts the Bruins ahead again.

The rookie defenseman rips a shot from the right boards past Boucher for the go-ahead tally.

Third Period, 17:26, 5-5: The Bruins had some chances, but can't convert on the man-advantage as this one is starting to smell like overtime.

Third Period, 15:26, 5-5: The Bruins get another power-play chance to take the lead again as Mike Richards is sent off for high-sticking Mark Recchi.

Third Period, 11:26, 5-5: The Bruins do get the tying goal, with Brad Marchand scoring from the high slot.

Blake Wheeler carried the puck into the zone but stumbled. Marchand pounced on the puck and quickly fired it home.

Third Period, 10:56, Flyers 5-4: The Bruins can't convert that power-play chance, as they continue to trail by a goal.

Third Period, 8:56, Flyers 5-4: The Bruins are going on the power play as Briere is called for cross-checking after a hit from behind on Savard in front of the Bruins bench.

That came after Kampfer delivered a big hit on Hartnell at the blue line as the physical play is ramping up.

Third Period, 7:41, Flyers 5-4: The Flyers strike again, with ex-Bruin Sean O'Donnell scoring his first of the season to put Philly back ahead.

He pinched in deep on the right side, took a crossing pass from Mike Richards and picked the top far corner over THomas' glove hand.

Third Period, 6:48, 4-4: The Flyers answer back once again, as Danny Briere ties it with a rebound at the left post.

Briere had a wide-open net to shot at after Thomas made the initial stop on Coburn's shot from the right circle.

Third Period, 4:30, Bruins 4-3: Those two goals came on the first two shots by the Bruins since 9:35 left in the second period.

Third Period, 1:48, Bruins 4-3: The Bruins take the lead as Michael Ryder tips one in at the right post.

Adam McQuaid sent the shot in from the right boards. Nathan Horton also picks up a point with an assist.

Third Period, 0:38, 3-3: The Bruins strike quick in the third as Mark Recchi scores to tie it.

Recchi sent a dump-in along the right boards that took a funny hop out front, where Recchi followed it up and tapped it into the open net with Boucher out of position to play the dump-in.

Third Period, 0:00, Flyers 3-2: The final frame is under way at the Garden. The Bruins are 4-9-4 when trailing after two this year, but the Flyers are 22-0-2 when leading after two periods.

Second Intermission Notes: A rough finish to the second after a great start.

The Bruins didn't put a shot on net for the final 9:35 of the period. Philly had just four shots in that span, but scored on two of them to take a 3-2 lead.

Too many breakdowns leading to odd-man rushes and breakaways in this one. Tim Thomas has come up with a few big stops on those breakaways, but he couldn't save Nikolay Zherdev's bid that tied it.

This will be a huge third period for the Bruins, as they try to be the one rallying for a win against the Flyers for a change.

End Second Period, Flyers 3-2: The second period was the opposite of the first, as this time the Bruins started strong, but the Flyers closed with two late goals to take a 3-2 lead into the third.

Second Period, 19:24, Flyers 3-2: The Flyers strike again and take the lead, with Jeff Carter picking the top near corner with  wrister from the left circle.

Second Period, 15:25, 2-2: The Flyers tie it up as Nikolay Zherdev gets behind the Bruins defense for a clean breakaway.

Thomas can't stop this one, as Zherdev slips it in on the backhand.

Second Period, 12:23, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins threaten again as Marchand steals the puck from Walker, but his pass in front to Bergeron gets broken up at the top of the crease.

Second Period, 11:10, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins had a chance there, but one too many passes as Horton gets it in the slot from Savard, but tries to send it back rather than shoot but doesn't connect on the pass in the right slot.

Second Period, 10:16, Bruins 2-1: The Flyers are starting to surge back after the Bruins dominated the start of this period.

But Thomas is standing tall, stoning Hartnell on a breakaway in from the left wing.

Second Period, 7:38, Bruins 2-1: Danny Paille with a burst of speed and a bid from the right circle that almost handcuffed Boucher.

Second Period, 4:34, Bruins 2-1: Nathan Horton with the chance down the left wing as he gets behind Walker, but Boucher makes the glove save. The Bruins are outshooting Philly 7-1 in the period.

Second Period, 3:20, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins continue to apply pressure as they try to extend the lead. Marchand had a chance from the left wing, with the rebound going to Recchi in front, but it got poked away before he could get the shot off.

Second Period, 0:45, Bruins 2-1: Patrice Bergeron's big week continues, as he puts the Bruins ahead for the first time in this one with another goal.

This one came on a deflection in front as he redirected Steven Kampfer's shot from the right point. Mark Recchi picks up the secondary assist.

Second Period, 0:00, 1-1: The middle frame is under way at the Garden, with the Bruins and Flyers each looking for the go-ahead goal after an even first period.

First Intermission Notes: Things didn't start off great for the Bruins, with Shawn Thornton coming out on the wrong side of a decision in his bout with Jody Shelley and the Flyers striking first 3:34 in.

But Boston settled down and took advantage of a string of Philadelphia penalties to pull even late.

The Bruins finally outhit an opponent in that period with an 8-6 edge, and at least a few of those were big shots as Adam McQuaid, Greg Campbell and Brad Marchand all delivered big checks. The bruins also held a 14-8 edge on faceoffs, winning 64 percent of the draws while the shots were even at 12-12.

End First Period, 1-1: The first 20 minutes are in the books, and after a slow start the Bruins rallied to pull even and should take some momentum into the second.

First Period, 18:16, 1-1: After Boucher somehow kept the puck out in a wild scramble in front, the Bruins pull even as Chara blasts one in from the right point.

Marc Savard and David Krejci pick up the assists on the play.

First Period, 17:42, Flyers 1-0: The Flyers take another penalty, giving the Bruins a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:05. This one is Coburn for hooking.

First Period, 16:46, Flyers 1-0: The Bruins will get another shot on the power play, as Hartnell is now sent off for hooking.

First Period, 15:24, Flyers 1-0: The Bruins managed just one shot on the man-advantage, though the point shot by Chara did almost trickle in.

First Period, 13:24, Flyers 1-0: The Bruins will get their first power-play chance as Krejci is hauled down on a scoring bid in front by Mike Richards, who goes off for hooking.

First Period, 13:10, Flyers 1-0: The shots are 11-4 for the Flyers, as Thomas is the only one keeping the Bruins in this one early.

First Period, 10:21, Flyers 1-0: Thomas lays out on his back to keep the puck out with James van Riemsdyk poking away at it at the left post.

First Period, 9:47, Flyers 1-0: Thornton and Shelley were released from the box after serving their fighting penalties. Nice to see the Bruins all congratulating Thornton for the effort in sticking up for McQuaid after Shelley's dirty hit last game. Mark Recchi, ever the leader, was the first to lean over for a fist bump as Thornton took his seat on the bench.

First Period, 7:53, Flyers 1-0: The Bruins kill off the penalty, though the Flyers had some quality chances, the best a clean breakaway by Claude Giroux. But Thomas turned aside his bid on the backhand.

First Period, 5:53, Flyers 1-0: The Bruins' rough start continues as they are called for too many men, giving Philadelphia the first power play of the night.

First Period, 3:34, Flyers 1-0: The Bruins' 10-0 unanswered goal streak is over, as the Flyers draw first blood early in this one.

After Ville Leino fired in a shot from the right boards, Scott Hartnell collected it down low and sent the puck from below the goal line behind Thomas and off the far left post. Braydon Coburn was there in front to bang it in, but the puck crossed the line first to give Hartnell the goal.

First Period, 2:35, 0-0: The gloves come off early and it's no surprise as Shawn Thornton asks Jody Shelley to go the first time they're on the ice together.

It's payback for Shelley's dirty hit on Adam McQuaid last month, but SHelley lands the better shots in this one, mixing left jersey jabs with big overhand rights. Thornton landed some counter punches of his own, but not as many as Shelley.

First Period, 0:45, 0-0: David Krejci with an early chance off a steal in front, but he lost control of the puck in the slot.

First Period, 0:00, 0-0: And this one is under way at the Garden, with the Bruins looking to extend their win streak to three games after outscoring the Penguins and Senators 10-0 over the last 63:23, while the Flyers look to stay unbeaten in January with their fifth straight win.

7 p.m.: The Bruins will open this one with the red-hot line of Patrice Bergeron between Brad Marchand and Mark Recchi, with Zdeno Chara and Steven Kampfer on defense and Tim Thomas in goal.

The Flyers counter with Ville Leino, Dann Briere and Scott Hartnell up front, Braydon Coburn and Kimmo Timonen on the blue line and Brian Boucher in goal.

6:50 p.m.: The Flyers did indeed scratch Dan Carcillo and Oskars Bartulis. Defenseman Matt Walker will play his first game for Philadelphia.

Milan Lucic (undisclosed) and Mark Stuart (hand) are out for Boston.

6:40 p.m.: No changes from Tuesday in the Bruins' lines during warm-ups, with the combinations remaining:

Ryder-Savard-Horton

Marchand-Bergeron-Recchi

Wheeler-Krejci-Seguin

Paille-Campbell-Thornton

And the defense pairs:

Chara-Kampfer

Seidenberg-Boychuk

Ference-McQuaid

The Flyers do look like they'll have some changes, as Dan Carcillo did not skate in warm-ups. Nikolay Zherdev did skate, so it looks like he will be back in the lineup. Matt Walker, who has not played yet this season after undergoing hip surgery, was in warm-ups and could be making his Flyers debut in this one.

6:30 p.m.: Tim Thomas and Brian Boucher led their clubs onto the ice for warm-ups.

That will be the goaltending matchup for this one as expected.

6 p.m.: The Bruins and Flyers are set to face off for the third time this season, as Philadelphia makes its final visit to the Garden this year barring another playoff encounter.

Tim Thomas was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, indicating he'll likely get the nod to start after posting his league-leading sixth shutout against Ottawa on Tuesday. Woonsocket, R.I. native Brian Boucher was first off for the Flyers.

Milan Lucic will miss his second straight game with an undisclosed injury. Mark Stuart also remains out with a broken hand, but he did skate with the club in the morning for the first time since suffering the injury and hopes to return to action next week.

8 a.m.: Suddenly, the Bruins are on quite a roll, scoring 10 unanswered goals in the last 63 minutes and 23 seconds they've played.

They quickly put their collapse in Montreal behind them with an improbable comeback in Pittsburgh, scoring four goals in the final 3:23 for a 4-2 victory, then carried that momentum into a dominating 6-0 victory over Ottawa on Tuesday to open a four-game homestand.

The Bruins now continue their Garden party by welcoming Philadelphia to town on Thursday. The Flyers know a thing or two about improbable comebacks, as last spring's rally from three games down in the series and a 3-0 deficit in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals remains fresh in the memories of both clubs.

While the Bruins are 6-1-3 in their last 10 games, the Flyers come in riding a four-game win streak of their own. Philadelphia is undefeated in January and has not allowed more than two goals in any of those four games, moving past Pittsburgh into the top spot in the East with a 27-10-5 record for 59 points.

The Flyers will still be without defenseman Chris Pronger, sidelined since mid-December after undergoing right foot surgery. He is close to a return, but plans for him to join the club in Boston were scrapped because of the storm. He'll meet the Flyers in Atlanta on Friday instead, but probably won't be ready for game action until next week.

Philadelphia still has plenty of weapons at their disposal, with eight players with 20 or more points already and another four with 15 or more. Mike Richards (14-24-38), Danny Briere (22-15-37), Claude Giroux (16-20-36) and Jeff Carter (16-18-34) all have more points than Boston's leading scorer Patrice Bergeron (13-19-32).

"I think we've got a great mix of players on our team, but certainly some talented players as well," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said in a conference call Wednesday. "There's a lot of players who have had pretty good years to this point. We play a style that is conducive to that. I don't think it really surprises me."

But the Bruins do have one of the best at preventing goals in Tim Thomas, who is coming off a 31-save shutout of the Senators on Tuesday. Thomas not only has a 19-4-6 record with an NHL-leading 1.77 GAA, .946 save percentage and six shutouts this year, but also has excellent career numbers against the Flyers (8-2-2, 2.05 GAA, .941 save percentage). Before Tuesday's 6-0 win over Ottawa, Thomas' last shutout came with a 41-save effort against the Flyers in a 3-0 win on Dec. 1.

That win started the Bruins' ascent up the standings, as Boston is 11-4-5 for an Eastern Conference-best 27 points since the start of December.

One of the few blemishes in that span came against the Flyers, who evened the season series with a 2-1 overtime victory at the Garden on Dec. 11 when Richards scored with three seconds left in OT after a Marc Savard giveaway. That meeting also featured Jody Shelley's dirty hit from behind on Adam McQuaid, which earned Shelley a two-game suspension.

Shelley and Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton already fought once this season in the Dec. 1 meeting, but they could renew acquaintances again, unless McQuaid wants to settle accounts personally.

The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.