Flyers blitzed by Boston to snap win streak

Ilya Bryzgalov was pulled in the second period after giving up five goals on 20 shots. The Flyers were shutout 6-0 at the hands of the Boston Bruins. Photo/Getty

By Chris DiFrancesco, Phila Phans’ Flyers beat writer

Coming in with a seven game win streak usually has letdown written all over it. Unfortunately, the Boston Bruins took it to the Flyers with a 6-0 demolition in front of a stunned Wells Fargo Center crowd.

Not to mention, the Flyers might have lost yet another player to a concussion. Rookie Sean Couturier took a Kimmo Timonen shot off the back of the head, left the game, and never returned.

Couturier, 19, took over Claude Giroux’s spot on the top line when Giroux went down with a concussion and was performing well until his injury Saturday.

Couturier was taken to Pennsylvania hospital for further evaluation.

IF Couturier suffered a concussion he will be the fourth Flyer already this season who’s been knocked out of the lineup because of head injuries. (Giroux, Chris Pronger, and Brayden Schenn)

Through all the injuries in the past week the Flyers have masterfully been able to shake it off and win hockey games. Except, Saturday afternoon they ran into a buzz-saw.

Tim Thomas recorded his fourth shutout of the season while Ilya Bryzgalov gave up four first-period goals and was pulled early in the second period. With the loss, the Flyers dropped down to fourth in the East standings and the Bruins jumped to the top spot.

Boston attacked the Flyers early and often with four first period scores including Benoit Pouliot’s opening goal 27 seconds after puck dropped.

Pouliot’s tally came off a double-deflection and beat Bryzgalov, who had no chance. Rich Peverley took the initial shot that ricocheted of Matt Carle then again off Pouliot.

Daniel Paille’s goal came around because of huge rebound after a Dennis Seidenberg shot at 2:50. Bruins captain Zdeno Chara made it 3-0 with a power-play goal that Bryzgalov probably should’ve handled.

The Bruins weren’t finished. Milan Lucic added another Boston power-play goal after a tip-in deflection at 17:10 to make it 4-0. That was Lucic’s 11th marker on the season.

Nathan Horton put the game way out of hand with Boston’s third power-play goal when he tapped in a rebound off Chara’s shot to make it 5-0. That was it for Bryzgalov and in came Sergei Bobrovsky.

Bryzgalov surrendered five goals on only 20 shots. However, not all can be left on his shoulders.

Near the end of the second period things got wild. Lucic boarded Zac Rinaldo which led to a big scrum between both clubs, including Rinaldo pounding Horton in the end.

Lucic earned a five-minute major for boarding and a game-misconduct. The Flyers still couldn’t find a way to beat Thomas on the five-minute power-play opportunity. Tyler Seguin’s 14th of the year made it 6-0 Boston at 12:12. He

That was basically how the night went for the Flyers. They lacked energy and grit against a team who’s now won four straight and six in a row in Philadelphia.

With the seven game winning streak now in the rear-view mirror, the Flyers and GM Paul Holmgren have a lot of decisions to make in the upcoming weeks. There’s a good chance Couturier has a concussion which means the Flyers will be without three centers and a top defenseman.

At that point, Holmgren almost has no choice but to hit the market quicker than he probably ever expected to.

Quotes coming soon…

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Posted by Chris DiFrancesco on Dec 17 2011. Filed under Breaking News, Chris DiFrancesco, Featured News, Flyers/NHL. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.