*Photo from CBS Sports*
Unlike the Avalanche vs Golden Knights, this game between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers did not take over 10 1/2 hours to finish. The start of the game was delayed around 10 minutes or so, but other than that, it was smooth sailing, especially if you were the Bruins. David Pastrnak recorded a hat trick, Trent Frederic scored his first career NHL goal, and the Bruins rolled over the Flyers with a 7-3 win on Lake Tahoe Sunday night.
Pastrnak started the scoring for the Bruins just 34 seconds into the game, giving the Bruins a very early 1-0 lead. The Flyers then got goals from Joel Farabee and Sean Couturier and they had a 2-1 lead. Charlie McAvoy then tied things up for the Bruins, making it 2-2 after one period. In the second, Pastrnak scored just 46 seconds in to make it 3-2 Bruins. Then, Charlie Coyle, Frederic, and Nick Ritchie all scored for the Bruins in 99 seconds, with Ritchie's goal coming on the power play. In the 3rd, James Van Riemsdyk scored for the Flyers, and Pastrnak capped off the hat trick, making it 7-3.
Pastrnak talked about the atmosphere and the environment of playing at Lake Tahoe, saying that "It was beautiful. I think, personally, that we played in both conditions with the sun and in the dark, it was really great. The dark is beautiful, too. overall, it was an unbelievable experience. We knew we were going to have some fun, but as soon as the puck drop happened, we were focusing on the game and doing everything to get a bounce back game for us and get the two points home."
Tuukka Rask started in goal for the Bruins, and had a mostly sharp night, saving 16 shots out of the 19 that came his way. Rask improved to 7-2-1 on the season, and the Bruins are now 11-3-2 this season, first place in the NHL's East Division. The Bruins have played the Flyers now 5 times this season, and have won all 5 games against them, which always helps when it comes to playoff seeding at the end of the year.
Bruins defensemen John Moore said of playing outdoors that "It's a tough year without fans but you can't say enough about this event. I've been fortunate enough to play in a couple outdoor games and this one just blows them all out of the water. I made it a point during my warmup to go outside the tent we have and warm up outside with the backdrop and the mountains and just kind of take it all in."
The Flyers did not have as much fun, as they were outclassed by the Bruins outdoors. Carter Hart stopped 17 of 23 shots that came his way, and after the disaster of a second period he had, was pulled for backup Brian Elliott, who stopped 11 of 12 shots that came his way in the 3rd period. Hart fell to 5-3-3 on the season, while the Flyers are 8-4-3 this season, 3rd place in the East Division.
The Flyers don't play until Wednesday, when they face the Rangers back at home. Hart is slated to start for the Flyers, but don't be surprised if Elliott gets the nod after Hart's showing at Lake Tahoe. The Bruins don't play until Thursday, when they head to Long Island to face the Islanders. Rask is expected to start.
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