Bruins fall to Flyers 3-1

The Bruins lost 3-1 on Monday night in a physical game against the Philadelphia Flyers that featured plenty of controversial calls (and non-calls).

The Bruins appeared to jump out to an early lead just over 2 minutes into the game when Vladimir Sobotka put the puck past Brain Boucher at the right post, but the goal was quickly waved off by the on-ice officials due to the net being off its moorings. The replay showed that the puck crossed the goalline before the whistle blew, but the call on the ice stood. According NESN color analyst Andy Brickley, who spoke with the league's review office in Toronto between periods, the play was not reviewable and the goal was waved off because Boucher did not have an opportunity to make a save since one of his players was pushed into him. Whatever the reason, the score remained 0-0.

Sobotka was able to find the back of the net for real when he set up at the top of the crease and deflected Shawn Thornton's shot past Brian Boucher for the game's first goal with 1:28 left in the second period.

UNH product James van Riemsdyk tied it up at 1-1 2:48 into the third period when he re-directed an Aaron Asham shot for his 7th goal of the season.

The Flyers broke the tie with 9:32 left in the third period on Kimo Timonen's shot from the blue line directly in front of Tim Thomas' net. The puck appeared to graze off of Blake Wheeler's glove and change direction enough to get past Thomas for the 2-1 Philadelphia lead.

The Bruins had an opportunity to tie the game up when Scott Hartnell took an ill-timed high-sticking penalty late in the third period. However, Kimo Timonen ended the Bruins hopes of winning and sealed the victory for the Flyers with an empty net goal with 40.3 seconds remaining in the game. Timomen cleared the puck the length of the ice from just in front of his own goal line all the way into the back of the Bruins net almost 200 feet away.

Notes:

- Dennis Wideman left the game with an undisclosed injury and did not return.

- I don't often complain about the officiating, but Chris Rooney and Rob Martell did not call a good game tonight: the early wash-out of Sobotka's goal, Chara getting tripped in the third, Briere being able to hold Krejci's stick and skate the length of the ice, etc, etc.

- Apparently, the "3 Minutes of Fame" youth hockey game during the first intermission got a little physical:

"Some heavy hitting during first intermission between the two youth hockey teams on the ice. More punches thrown during intermission than in the first period."

- Fluto Shinzawa, Boston.com

This prompted the following text exchange between Timmy and me:

Me: was there a fight during the youth hockey game during intermission

Timmy: yea it was f__ing awesome

Me: i wish i had video

Stanley Cup of Chowder, SB Nation, and it's sponsors do not advocate violence among children blah blah blah, but if you do have video of this please shoot me an email stanleycupofchowder@gmail.com

- The next time the Bruins and Flyers will meet is on January 1st at Fenway Park for the NHL Winter Classic.

- Daniel Carcillo returned to the lineup for the Flyers after serving his suspension for his actions during a fight with Washington's Matt Bradley. Carcillo's showed his presence throughout this game and recorded 8 hits.

- The Bruins were out-shoted 38-27.

- The Bruins did win 59% of the face-offs tonight, but as Bill Belichick would say "stats are for losers".

- I hope the Bruins goalies don't wear winter hats over their masks during the Winter Classic like they did in warm-ups tonight. That is a straight up goofy look.

- Bruins are off until Friday when they travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks.

- For more on tonight's game from a Flyers' fan perspective check out Broad Street Hockey