Flyers Lose Third Straight in Entertaining Game Against the Bruins

Last night, the Flyers returned home to Xfinity Mobile Arena to face off against the Boston Bruins for their fourth preseason game. Although markedly more entertaining than the two previous losses to MTL and WAS, the Flyers dropped to 1-3 in preseason play after losing 4-3. This was another loss, but there were more positives to take from this one, including something that has been a serious negative for the past few years – the power play.

After Sam Ersson was skated into by a Bruin eight minutes into the game, the second unit kicked off the scoring 8:57 into the first period. Sean Couturier and Christian Dvorak played catch with the puck for a few seconds, then Dvorak from slightly behind the net moved up and played a pass across the crease for Travis Sanheim to slam home. This was after a dangerous looking showing from the first unit of Michkov – Zegras – Tippett – Konecny – Drysdale.

The Flyers would have gotten out of the first period 1-0 up, if not for a brutal turnover from the promising Alex Bump. Bump nonchalantly went to carry the puck behind his own net to burn the remaining few seconds in the period, losing control of thepuck with just enough time left for Bruin John Beecher to stuff it underneath the surprised Ersson. Bump has had some buzz around him since developmental camp and still has a chance to make the big club, but a mistake like that can’t make Rick Tocchet happy.

The Bruins took a 2-1 lead in the second after a Travis Konecny penalty. A good defensive play from Seeler against a high-danger pass from the slot deflected the puck right back to Bruin Dalton Bancroft, who would also tally again late in the period. After this goal to make it 2-1, the Flyers regained momentumbut couldn’t fully capitalize.

Flyers winger Nikita Grebenkin scored the Flyers second goal by batting in a puck that was flipped across the crease towards him. Matvei Michkov was given the primary assist on this goal, but Cam York also skates in, and his stick looks involved here also. We’ll call it a fortuitous bounce, but Grebenkin was still in a good position around the net. He had multiple moments, including earning a penalty shot attempt and a noticeably good shift in the third period. Around five minutes into the period, Grebenkin mishandled an entry pass into the Boston zone, then worked hard to recover the puck and then set up a good scoring chance.

A few minutes after a nice defensive play from Jamie Drysdale, the Flyers then took the lead 3-2 with another PP goal. This is exactly the type of highlight Flyers fans are hoping to see in abundance, with Michkov making a quick move at the blue line to get to open ice in the middle, then finds Zegras with a smooth pass in the right low-low circle. After seeing Zegras and Michkov working together after practice a few days ago, they displayed the chemistry they are building in real time.

Michkov would then be a part of a mishap that led to the Bruins tying the game with around five minutes left in the second period. Defenseman Adam Ginning skated up the neutral zone towards Boston ice, and Michkov played a pass to him. Ginning did not look like he was expecting the pass, and the puck went right to a Bruin defenseman with Ginning now totally out of position. After an outlet pass the Bruins essentially had a 2v0 rush, and capitalized on the mistake. Bancroft gets his second goal here.

Ersson played all 60 minutes for the Flyers tonight, and helped keep the game tied for most of the third period. Six minutes in, he made a good save on a Bruin who received a saucer pass right on the money skating through the slot. On the game-winner scored by Boston’s Jeffrey Veil, Ersson almost stays with him after Veil scorched Flyers d-man Helge Grans around the right side cutting in on goal. Grans attempts to swat the puck out of midair and misses, then stumbles unable to recover. Grans, a starter on the Phantoms for the past two seasons, is trying to start this season in the NHL. An unfortunate sequence here for the 23-year-old.

Quick hits

- Grebenkin earned his penalty shot attempt due to a Bruin player tossing their broken stick at him during a scoring chance. He was unable to cash in after making a nice deke.

- Dvorak – Zegras – Michkov line operated well in the offensive zone throughout the game. Dvorak was putting himself in good position for both his linemates, in the third period he set up Michkov with a great pass to the side of the net. This forced Boston goaltender Michael Dipietro to make the save of the game.

- The Flyers have allowed 14 goals in their last three preseason contests.

The Flyers will play the second part of their preseason home-and-home with Boston on Monday Sept. 29 @7:00PM. They will look to continue their offensive momentum, but work on minimizing unforced mistakes/turnovers.

- Tyler Grace/ Olde City Sports Network

- Photo Credit- Leigha Grace/ Olde City Sports Network