The Philadelphia Flyers hosted the Boston Bruins in their preseason opener tonight at Wells Fargo Center, looking to show the coaching and management staffs how they’ve improved over the summer with their strength and conditioning as they get into game action.
For some players, this was their first action of the preseason. For others, they have already participated in Development Camp or Rookie Camp so far.
Either way, Philadelphia made the most of their first opportunity on the ice behind great performances in goal from Felix Sandström and Troy Grosenick and goals from both Noah and Jackson Cates as the Flyers defeated the Bruins 2-1 to open up their preseason campaign.
FIRST PERIOD
The Flyers began the game very undisciplined, taking three minor penalties in the first 8:14 of the contest. In fairness, Tanner Laczynski’s tripping penalty to kick things off was questionable at best, but regardless you can’t put yourself in positions to take calls.
While Philadelphia’s penalty kill was busy early and often, they looked composed and ready to play. They killed of each Boston power play with ease and got some help from starter Felix Sandström to stave off the Bruins’ efforts to get on the scoreboard first.
The Flyers would get their first power play just past the halfway mark of the opening frame after Chris Wagner was whistled for tripping Louie Belpedio. While they moved the puck well, they couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity.
Shortly after Wagner’s penalty expired, Wade Allison dropped the gloves with Connor Carrick after Antoine Roussel took a big hit from the Bruins blueliner.
Allison and Carrick engaged in more of a hugging match than a fight, but both were charged with five minutes and Allison earned an additional 12 minutes in penalties, two for instigating and a ten-minute misconduct to boot after sticking up for his teammate.
There wasn’t much else to write home about in the period, but the Flyers showed heart and hustle and were able to keep things evened at 0-0 despite the Bruins outshooting them 16-7 after twenty minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
The Flyers came out of the first intermission with more pep in their step and they forced the Bruins into two very early penalties as a result.
Josiah Didier was called for interference against Tyson Foerster just 55 seconds into the period, and then 16 seconds into the power play Jakub Lauko hooked Noah Cates off a faceoff to give the Flyers a 5-on-3 power play.
It took Philadelphia just 21 seconds to make the most of the opportunity, as Morgan Frost dished a beautiful pass to Cates and he rammed the puck past Keith Kinkaid to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
Not long after the Flyers’ opening goal, we would see our second fight of the night as Hayden Hodgson duked it out with A.J. Greer after Hodgson hit Josiah Didier from behind in the right corner.
Tonight’s contest certainly had a physical element to it, which is expected in preseason when you have players trying to show anything that they belong on an NHL roster.
Greer would pick up the instigator and ten-minute misconduct for his role in sticking up for Didier, much like Allison did for Roussel in the first period.
Philadelphia continued to pepper Kinkaid throughout the frame, but he was up the task until Kyle Keyser relieved him midway through the game. Felix Sandström played a fantastic game as well before he was pulled for Troy Grosenick, making 17 saves on 17 Boston shots. The goaltending switches were planned and are not unusual to see in preseason action.
At 14:37 of the period, Connor Carrick was sent to the box for delay of game after he flipped the puck over the glass and the Flyers would try and set up another power play goal. Unfortunately, the Bruins were better positioned this time around and killed off Carrick’s minor.
With just under three minutes to play in the period, Ronnie Attard would get a delay of game penalty of his own for Philadelphia and the Bruins had a chance to tie the game up late before the second intermission. Boston couldn’t solve the Flyers’ penalty kill unit again and Philadelphia escaped the period with their 1-0 lead intact.
The Flyers played a slightly more disciplined period of hockey but were more sound with their puck possession and were more assertive on offensive, and it all paid off through forty minutes.
THIRD PERIOD
The pressure was still on from Philadelphia but Boston would have a shot at tying the game up again after Tyson Foerster was called for slashing Jack Ahcan just 3:07 into the final stanza.
The Flyers were again able to hold the Bruins at bay on the penalty kill, a very encouraging sign after the team’s special teams struggles last season.
As the period wore on, the game grew more even and bitter as both teams were fighting for every inch on the ice and trying hard to keep the other away from the puck. Eventually, Philadelphia wouldn’t be able to stave off Boston’s attack anymore.
With 7:10 remaining the period, Jakub Lauko finally got the Bruins on the board and tied the game at 1-1. He turned around and fired a bullet that found its way through light traffic and by Grosenick to pull the Bruins even.
The Bruins would successfully kill off a Jakub Zbořil interference penalty almost immediately after the goal, but despite a failed power play attempt, the Flyers found a way to retake the lead late in the third.
Jackson Cates parked himself in the slot and as Egor Zamula blasted a one-timer from the point, the elder Cates got a stick on it to fool Kyle Keyser and give Philadelphia a 2-1 advantage with 4:40 remaining to play.
Cates’ goal would stand as the game-winner despite a furious Bruins comeback attempt in the final minute that featured a Morgan Frost shot block to seal the deal and give the Flyers a 2-1 win in their preseason opener.
3 STARS OF THE GAME – 1) Jackson Cates – PHI, 2) Felix Sandström – PHI, 3) Noah Cates – PHI
UP NEXT…
The Flyers will travel to Buffalo on Tuesday night as they take on the Sabres at KeyBank Center on the first leg of a back-to-back to continue their preseason schedule.
Music City Hockey Trip
Take a three day vacation to Nashville with Philly Sports Trips this October! The package includes direct flights, a three night stay at the Cambria Hotel Nashville Downtown, an all-inclusive tailgate, and tickets to the Flyers Predators game. $100 cash for anyone who shows proof they went to the Flyers game on the trip.
