Sean Couturier tied the game in the third period, but it wasn’t enough, as the Philadelphia Flyers fell 2-1 to the Boston Bruins in their regular-season opener Wednesday night at the TD Garden.
Reilly Smith opened the scoring for the Bruins, while Chris Kelly broke a 1-1 tie late in the third period to give the Bruins a 2-1 win.
Goalie Steve Mason stopped 31 of 33 shots, while Tuukka Rask made 19 saves for Boston.
Pre-Game
There was no shortage of hype and excitement as the Flyers took to the ice for their first game of the 2014-15 NHL season. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto and centre Pierre-Edouard Bellemare were both making their regular-season debuts with the Flyers.
#Flyers #Bruins have met twice in season openers: 1990 BOS beat PHI 4-1 @ Spectrum, & 2011 when PHI spoiled B's championship banner nite 2-1
— David Strehle (@DStrehleTFP) October 8, 2014
Warmups are underway in Boston! Consider this your half hour warning to #Flyers hockey. #PHIvsBOS pic.twitter.com/iVaoGVYCLD
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 8, 2014
My favorite time of the year again #flyers
— Casey Joyce (@casey_joyce10) October 8, 2014
The @NHLFlyers season opener is tonight! Let’s go #Flyers! #BrotherlyLove pic.twitter.com/OyxGJZOtae
— Phillies (@Phillies) October 8, 2014
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) October 8, 2014
Jason Akeson, who made the team after some talk that he might not make the cut, wanted you to bring the noise
— Jason Akeson (@JasonAkeson) October 8, 2014
First Period
Reilly Smith Makes it 1-0 Bruins
Smith scored the first goal of the game on a power play 10:39 into the period. He was setup by Carl Soderberg.
Zac Rinaldo Takes Rouging Minor vs. Torey Krug
The Smith goal was nice, but lots of the talk was surrounding the play that led to the goal. Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo took a rather unnecessary penalty, resulting in the Bruins’ tally on the ensuing power play.
Darn. I had "Bad penalty behind the play by Zac Rinaldo" at 14 minutes into the first game in the office pool.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) October 8, 2014
Cash your ticket if you had Zac Rinaldo taking the #Flyers' first penalty of the season. Reilly Smith scores on a nice look from Seidenberg.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 8, 2014
Wayne Simmonds Dangles
Wayne Simmonds pulled an unbelievable move, but put the shot wide
That Wayne Simmonds move in slow motion. Beautiful https://t.co/0kGPr1s55Q
— Bob Roberts (@BobRbrts) October 9, 2014
Wayne Simmonds combines high end skill and a willingness to give himself up. Always a factor.
— Jack Edwards (@RealJackEdwards) October 8, 2014
Shots were 14-7 Bruins after the first period
Second Period
Power-Play Struggles
The Flyers had two power-play opportunities in the middle period, but they looked pretty awful on both of them. They managed only one shot in total.
How we all feel watching the Flyers powerplay pic.twitter.com/73pV5D74w4
— Keiana D. Williams © (@PHSportsGoddess) October 9, 2014
What happened to the powerplay from the preseason?
— Shawn Reznik (@ShawnTHW) October 9, 2014
Luke Schenn Fights Bobby Robbins
Schenn droped the mitts with Robbins, a 32-year-old tough guy who was making his debut with the Bruins
Luke Schenn looked like a Mayweather opponent there.
— Matt Elwell (@TheOrangeNBlack) October 9, 2014
Luke Schenn drops the mitts. Just a goal and assist away from the Gordie Howe Hat Trick. #Flyers
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 9, 2014
Steve Mason Stands Tall
Steve Mason only faced six shots in the period, but they were high-end chances, and he came up clutch.
Fans..meet Steve Mason this period. pic.twitter.com/VyHs0wWkD9
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) October 9, 2014
Mase tonight pic.twitter.com/Rv2OGGKldr
— Umby (@FuckingUmby) October 9, 2014
Michael Raffl’s Hair
Michael Raffl with the front pony tail....aggressive for opening night but I like it. pic.twitter.com/MKadXW41jM
— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) October 9, 2014
The Flyers outshot the Bruins 7-6 in the period, but the score remained 1-0 Boston heading into the final frame
Third Period
Sean Couturier Ties The Game
Coots tied the game 4:19 into the period, redirecting a shot attempt from Jakub Voracek past Rask.
Couturier ties it! pic.twitter.com/4gGzwQExhy
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 9, 2014
When you get a case of Tastykakes for scoring pic.twitter.com/HX3zVWNH4c
— Life Of A Philly Fan (@PhillyFanLife) October 9, 2014
Steve Mason Breakaway Save
Mason robbed Reilly Smith on a mini-breakaway, keeping the game tied at one.
STONE COLD STEVE MASON
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) October 9, 2014
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 9, 2014
Chris Kelly Nets Eventual Game-Winner, Makes it 2-1
After a shot from Adam McQuaid was turned away by Mason, Kelly jumped on the loose puck and slid it into the net. The goal came with just under two minutes remaining in regulation.
Friendly reminder that Chris Kelly's lone highlight from last season came in Game 1.
— Marshall DaysOfY'Orr (@DOYMarshall) October 9, 2014
Post-Game
While it was a loss, the Flyers could have done a lot worse against one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders. Philly gets right back it on home ice Thursday night vs. New Jersey.
Mason looked as solid as ever.
— TOU (@TheOrangeUpdate) October 9, 2014
#Flyers were 1:51 away from a point against an elite team I guess, move on tomorrow at home.
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) October 9, 2014
Oh well. Still great to watch Flyers hockey again, and when Patrice Bergeron wasn't on the ice, Flyers actually looked pretty solid.
— Charlie O'Connor (@BSH_THG_Charlie) October 9, 2014
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