The Boston Bruins convincingly defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in four straight games to win the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinals. Boston won the fourth game 5–1, perfectly punctuating the four-game sweep.
The Bruins beat the Flyers in Boston, giving fans a reason to forget the 2010 playoffs, when the Bruins had a three-game lead and were beat by the Flyers, who won four straight games.
This year Boston didn’t falter, and no matter how hard the Flyers pushed, the Bruins had something extra with which to push back.
“These fans deserve this; it’s been a while since we won the second round,” Bruins goalie Tim Thomas told Versus after the game. “After last year, I am sure, to the fans this series had more meaning. We exorcised those demons tonight.”
The game started even, and very, very physical. The Flyers were determined to punish the Bruins, and possibly to instigate a few foolish penalties, while Boston responded with vigor. The two teams earned thirteen minor penalties in the first two periods.
In the third period the Flyers, realizing they needed goals and couldn’t get them by trying to outhit the Bruins, tried to focus on offense, but everywhere they turned they ran into black jerseys.
Bruins captain Zdeno Chara was instrumental, single-handled stopping many Flyers drives, scrapping with anyone who would offer a challenge. And Milan Lucic, who hadn’t scored a goal throughout the playoffs, came through with two Friday night.
Lucic opened the scoring with a power play goal in the first period. Nathan Hoerton picked up the puck behind the Flyers net and fed Lucic standing in the crease on ther other side of the net. Lucic wasted no time netting the puck past Philadelphia netminder Sergie Bobrovsky, back in the net after the Flyers pulled Brian Boucher in Game Three.
The Flyers struck back thirteen minutes into the second period when Mike Richards sent Kris Versteeg in on a breakaway. Versteeg beat Tim Thomas to tie the game.
Boston open2d the third period with a second goal, when Johnny Boychuck picked up a loose puck after a faceoff drove a 60-foot slapshot past Bobrevsky’s left shoulder.
Milan Lucic iced the game with five minutes left in the period when Nathan Horton stopped a weak clear attempt and sent it to Lucic who skated in alone and Bobrevsky giving Boston a two-goal lead.
With two minutes left in the game Philadelphia pulled Bobrevsky to add another attacker, but the plan backfired as Brad Marchand hit the open net. With 25 seconds left, Daniel Paille tipped in a Gregory Campbell drive to add one more to the Boston tally.
The Bruins have momentum now; whoever they face next had best come ready.
The Bruins beat the Flyers in Boston, giving fans a reason to forget the 2010 playoffs, when the Bruins had a three-game lead and were beat by the Flyers, who won four straight games.
This year Boston didn’t falter, and no matter how hard the Flyers pushed, the Bruins had something extra with which to push back.
“These fans deserve this; it’s been a while since we won the second round,” Bruins goalie Tim Thomas told Versus after the game. “After last year, I am sure, to the fans this series had more meaning. We exorcised those demons tonight.”
The game started even, and very, very physical. The Flyers were determined to punish the Bruins, and possibly to instigate a few foolish penalties, while Boston responded with vigor. The two teams earned thirteen minor penalties in the first two periods.
In the third period the Flyers, realizing they needed goals and couldn’t get them by trying to outhit the Bruins, tried to focus on offense, but everywhere they turned they ran into black jerseys.
Bruins captain Zdeno Chara was instrumental, single-handled stopping many Flyers drives, scrapping with anyone who would offer a challenge. And Milan Lucic, who hadn’t scored a goal throughout the playoffs, came through with two Friday night.
Lucic opened the scoring with a power play goal in the first period. Nathan Hoerton picked up the puck behind the Flyers net and fed Lucic standing in the crease on ther other side of the net. Lucic wasted no time netting the puck past Philadelphia netminder Sergie Bobrovsky, back in the net after the Flyers pulled Brian Boucher in Game Three.
The Flyers struck back thirteen minutes into the second period when Mike Richards sent Kris Versteeg in on a breakaway. Versteeg beat Tim Thomas to tie the game.
Boston open2d the third period with a second goal, when Johnny Boychuck picked up a loose puck after a faceoff drove a 60-foot slapshot past Bobrevsky’s left shoulder.
Milan Lucic iced the game with five minutes left in the period when Nathan Horton stopped a weak clear attempt and sent it to Lucic who skated in alone and Bobrevsky giving Boston a two-goal lead.
With two minutes left in the game Philadelphia pulled Bobrevsky to add another attacker, but the plan backfired as Brad Marchand hit the open net. With 25 seconds left, Daniel Paille tipped in a Gregory Campbell drive to add one more to the Boston tally.
The Bruins have momentum now; whoever they face next had best come ready.
