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This perfect picture is turning very blurry very fast for the Bruins. It would’ve been nice for them to come home and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals by beating the Philadelphia Flyers while in Boston. Well the champagne is going to have to wait at least another night.

As Boston fans, we expected the Bruins to put away the Flyers on Friday night, but a late overtime goal by Simon Gagne kept his team alive for Monday’s game.  As if we weren’t cursing his name enough on Friday, he was again the hero for the Flyers on Monday night as he scored two goals on to a 4-0 victory for Philadelphia. The Bruins still lead the series 3-2, as Game Six heads back to Philadelphia.

One of the largest concerns for the Bruins should be the amount of power plays they gave the Flyers. Philly had the man advantage nine times during the game. That’s right, nine times!!! Granted, they only scored once but the Bruins cannot give any team that many opportunities ever. Especially in the playoffs. So they really need to go back and play smart hockey.

For the Flyers, starting goalie Brian Boucher injured his knee early in the second period after being on the bottom of a pileup in the crease. Prior to leaving the ice he stopped all nine shots-on-goal from the Bruins. Michael Leighton came in and finished off the shutout for Philly, as he stopped all 14 shots he saw.

Tuukka Rask was not as fortunate in goal as he has been the rest of the postseason. Rask stopped 27-of-31 shots on goal as he got the loss. There is still no indication on whether or not Tim Thomas will ever step on the ice.

First Period

• The Flyers didn’t waste any time getting things going in the first period, as Ville Leino scored his second goal of the postseason just under seven minutes into the game. He was assisted by Chris Pronger and Matt Carle on the play. Bruins down 1-0
• Vladimir Sobotka receieved a four-minute double-minor later in the period for high-sticking Scott Hartnell.

Second Period

• Hartnell got his revenge on the high-stick from the first period by netting his first goal of the postseason to put the Flyers up 2-0 just past the half-way mark in the period. He was assisted by Danny Briere and Kimmo Timonen on the play. Bruins down 2-0
• 40 seconds later, Marc Savard got called for roughing Timonen and serves two minutes in the box. At least he tried to get revenge.
• With less than three minutes left in the period Gagne netted his second goal of the season and it was a big one. Gagne was assisted by Leino and Mike Richards with the man advantage as Steve Begin was in the box for boarding Claude Giroux. Bruins down 3-0 

Third Period

• To wrap things up, Gagne added his second goal of the night less than seven minutes into the period to give Philadelphia the final 4-0 lead. Gagne was unassisted on the play. Flyers lead and win 4-0

Game Six will take place on Wednesday in Philadelphia. After starting the series off 3-0, it was hard to imagine that the Flyers would put up any fight, but it’s a series now and the Bruins really need to start playing smarter hockey, and getting the puck in the net. After figuring out how to score in all the other games during the playoffs, we can only hope they don’t hit a cold streak.

Game Notes

• The Flyers out-shot the Bruins 31-to-23 for the game.
• Boston racked up 22 penalty minutes in the game, many on poor decisions on the ice. Philly only had eight penalty minutes.
• The Bruins out-hit the Flyers 25-to-24 and won more faceoffs (31-to-22).
• Before Monday’s loss, the Bruins were 5-0 at home this year in the playoffs.
• Before the game the Bruins honored Bobby Orr with a statue outside the TD Garden.

Tags: Boston Bruins, Brian Boucher, Michael Leighton, Phila, Philadelphia Flyers, Simon Gagne, Tuukka Rask