Patrice Bergeron scored a hat trick, Brad Marchand recorded a goal and three assists and goalie Jeremy Swayman made 40 saves in his NHL debut as the Boston Bruins collected a 4-2 road win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
Boston improved to 6-0-1 against Philadelphia this season. The only blemish on the record was the Flyers’ 3-2 overtime win on Monday in the first half of a back-to-back set.
The fourth-place Bruins now hold a five-point edge over both Philadelphia and the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot in the East Division.
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It was Marchand’s second four-point performance in three games, as he had a hat trick and an assist in the Bruins’ 7-5 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Marchand has six goals and five assists over his past five games.
Swayman stood tall against lots of pressure from the Flyers. The 22-year-old Anchorage, Alaska, native thrived even though Philadelphia outshot Boston by a 42-26 margin, matching the Bruins’ season high for most shots allowed in a game.
Jakub Voracek had a goal and an assist and Shayne Gostisbehere scored the Flyers’ other goal. All of Philadelphia’s offense came during a lopsided second period that saw the Flyers collect 25 shots, their highest shot total in any period this season.
Bergeron scored his sixth career hat trick. His first goal of the game was a career milestone, as he became the 116th player in NHL history to reach the 900-point plateau at 7:09 of the first period.
The 901st point came just over 10 minutes later during a Bruins power play. After a Scott Laughton breakaway by stopped by Swayman, the puck was quickly worked back up the ice to Bergeron for his second goal of the period.
The Flyers’ big second period saw Voracek and Gostisbehere equalize the score within the frame’s first 4:03.
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At 8:21 of the third period, Marchand and Jeremy Lauzon broke out on a two-on-one chance during a Philadelphia power play. Lauzon passed to Marchand for the finish and the Bruins’ sixth short-handed goal of the year.
Bergeron added an empty-net goal in the final minute of play to clinch the Bruins’ win.
Carter Hart stopped 22 of 25 shots for the Flyers.
–Field Level Media