Despite the Philadelphia Flyers being six points out of the final Eastern Conference wild card, the Boston Bruins knew they were going to be in for a battle. John Tortorella’s team entered the game winners of seven of their last eight games and looking to continue their climb toward a playoff berth with a win over the NHL’s best team. It didn’t go exactly the way it has been for the Flyers the last couple of weeks.
The Bruins erupted for six goals and aside from the first couple of minutes, they played a solid all-around game on their way to a 6-0 dominating win over Philadelphia on Jan. 16. Here are three takeaways from the Bruins’ 34th win of the season and their 21st on home ice.
Czechia Line Provides Offense
When the puck dropped to begin the game, it was the 1,000th career game for David Krejci. First-year coach Jim Montgomery started him with linemates David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha and little did anyone know the afternoon the trio was in store for.
They combined for four goals and five assists and got things rolling in the first period. Pastrnak opened the scoring by deflecting a pass from Zacha inside the far post, then Zacha celebrated signing his four-year contract extension on Jan. 14 when he one-timed a pass from Krejci off the post and over the shoulder of Flyers’ goalie Carter Hart. In the second period, Zacha got credit for his second goal of the game when his pass in front of the net hit a Philadelphia defenseman and went into the net. Pastrnak closed out the lines scoring in the third period on the power play for his 35th goal of the season.
Related: Bruins’ 3 Up, 3 Down: Montgomery, Carlo, Ullmark & More
Latest News & Highlights
When they are together, the line never stops moving and creates so many scoring chances for each other and the defensemen. The trio combined for 10 of the Black and Gold’s 29 shots and drove Hart from the game early in the second period. Jake DeBrusk is still some time away from returning from his fractured fibula, but Montgomery needs to keep the line intact. Too many good things happen when they’re together.
Swayman Records Sixth Career Shutout
The last time Jeremy Swayman started a game was on Jan. 8 in the Bruins’ 7-1 rout of the Anaheim Ducks to close out their road trip through California. Linus Ullmark got the last two starts and there were questions if Swayman had been battling an injury. He put all questions to rest with a 29-save…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…