Bruins Slam Flyers And Take First Place

by Kristian Limas on Dec 17, 2011 4:24 PM EST in Game Recaps

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 17: Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during their game on December 17, 2011 at The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Maybe it was the chance to show off for the HBO cameras, or maybe it was the chance to take hold of the Eastern Conference lead that led to 6-0 drumming of the banged-up Philadelphia Flyers Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.

Zdeno Chara had a goal and an assist in his return to the lineup while Tim Thomas made 31 stops for his third shutout of the season.

Captain my Captain

If you really wanted an idea of how much Chara makes a difference when he is playing then look no further than his performance in Philly today. An early tone setting fight with Jody Shelley, a powerplay goal, and a late assist capped off a Gordie Howe hat trick for the Captian, he also led the team in ice time with 23:39. The Bruins D-corps has been competent if not a little sloppy in his absence, allowing 49 shots in their last game, but the return of Chara really stabilized the back end.

Thomas on Again

It was another one of those games for Thomas, you don't know how he does it but the puck gets stopped. It's ironic but the games where he is flopping all over the place seem to be the ones he always does his best in. He did have a lighter workload with the return of Chara but a shutout is a shutout even against a injured Flyers team.

Seguin Doing His Time

Tyler Seguin might be on the upswing after this game. After looking a little lost early on and earning a short demotion to the fourth line he ended the night with two points and his first goal since December 5th. Garbage time goal aside, the kid may be getting his fire back.

Smile For the Cameras

For the second year in a row the Bruins have made a team look silly on HBO's 24/7. The Bruins got up early and then things naturally got a little chippy. Multiple big scrums, dives, and some good fights if anything it will make for good television come Wendsday night.

Lucic On the Outs?

Milan Lucic lives for these kind of games but the big man may have let it get the best of him Saturday afternoon. His boarding on Zac Rinaldo earned him a game misconduct, an early shower, and a possible date with Brendan Shanahan. The Bruins have been lucky so far this year when it comes to suspensions but given the nature of the hit, the timing, and his earlier transgressions don't be surprised of that luck runs out come Monday.

Cup of Chowder's Three Stars

1. Zdeno Chara

2. Tim Thomas

3. Rich Peverley

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Just because I love you Doug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ugTUMA5ArOk

You know what it is

by Kristian Limas on Dec 17, 2011 4:33 PM EST reply actions

Out of everyone involved with SCoC

You are my favorite Kristian!

by dwatson783 on Dec 17, 2011 10:30 PM EST up reply actions

Would be rather ridiculous to have Lucic suspended for that when McQuaid got off on a far more deserving play.

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Dec 17, 2011 4:54 PM EST reply actions

Agree. I also think the refs called the 5 and a game because of the chippiness of the game. It was their way of trying to get it under control. I have seen worse boardings than that get 2 minutes. It was a penalty but in any other game it would have been 2 IMO.

Not to mention they guy who got boarded got into a fight with Horton during that stoppage. Clearly he wasn’t hurt on the play.

by TCL40 on Dec 17, 2011 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

I agree but...

Lucic has the sticking his foot out trip, the Miller hit, now this hit along with a few other questionable hits lately and I honestly think he needs a suspension to wake up. I know he’s chipping in his points, but he’s been playing just over the edge the last while already and needs to start playing smarter.

by I Love Ska on Dec 18, 2011 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

While I don’t think this hit was deserving of a suspension, I bet he gets a game or two.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Dec 19, 2011 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

That was a brutal game. The Bruins owned the Flyers from the opening minutes. Flyers are hurting defensively without Pronger but they didn’t seem to be playing wiith much heart. Bryz looked awful. I can’t believe they left him in as long as they did. He clearly wasn’t on his game.

by TCL40 on Dec 17, 2011 5:03 PM EST reply actions

I only had time to watch the first period…fortunately, the game was over by the first intermission.

by Phunwin on Dec 17, 2011 5:57 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Great game! They were ready for this one!
They’re still in 2nd though! I saw Bastard brought it up in the skate, the second tiebreaker
( fewest games played is first ), is Regulation and OT wins, ROW ( excludes that foolish shootout ), Philly has 20 to the Bruins 18.

"2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins!" - Music to my ears!

by SkateHitShoot on Dec 18, 2011 12:06 AM EST reply actions

Yup. And it’s TT’s fourth shut out.
I think some of the reason for Seguin not playing regular 2nd line minutes, with the score being what is was, was to get Hamill some quality face-off opposition. He’s been taking more FOs than Seguin, who has been pretty much pulled from FO duty. On the season, Hamill is 11 of 20 (55% in 5 games) while Seguin is 29 of 67 (43% in 30 games). Yesterday Hamill won 2 of 3 each from Read and Talbot and won his only attempt against Briere. Seguin did win his only FO vs. Couturier.

by gravitymike on Dec 18, 2011 4:31 PM EST up reply actions

I also think they pulled some players off the ice because of the chippiness of the game. Julien was playing Thornton on the 2nd line and stopped putting Peverly on the ice because he didn’t like the tenor of the game. He had Thornton out there to keep them honest.

by TCL40 on Dec 19, 2011 8:14 AM EST up reply actions

Thornton was on the second line...

because of Hartnell’s targeting Marchand. Bergeron and Seguin are not fighters, so Thornton was there to keep Hartnell honest, not that it worked, however, Boychuk stepped in to take care of it…

by Unbeliever on Dec 19, 2011 9:36 AM EST up reply actions

Pretty amazing

Here I was expecting a major struggle going against the hottest team in the league. Instead it’s possibly the biggest blowout of the year. It’s good to see the defense getting back into form so the goalies don’t have to be spectacular ALL the time. Welcome back, Chara!

by Aluminum Penguin on Dec 18, 2011 4:13 AM EST reply actions

Honorable mention to Daniel Paille.

He was all over the ice yesterday. That was just a fun game to watch.

"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton

by UMDBHIK on Dec 18, 2011 7:42 AM EST reply actions

Great game, sent a strong message! Need to keep this going and cream montreal next.

by bruins fan in montreal on Dec 18, 2011 12:32 PM EST reply actions

Great Game Bruins

Like I said 10 games ago, I’ve never seen a team play such consistent hockey for such a long stretch of time. Even the games we lost in Winnipeg and Florida were pretty good games. I’d say that Florida game was probably the next best game of the year to the Detroit game, even though they were both losses. 5-6 goal posts? Yup, we should have had that one.

by I Love Ska on Dec 18, 2011 3:16 PM EST reply actions

I said it before, but how about Coach Julien's touch when it comes to

ex-Canadien palyers. Pouliot is his latest, 5 goals, but 4 of those 5 are game winners…

Also, what can you say about Pevs, I am so happy we got him and wrapped him up for a few years…

by Unbeliever on Dec 19, 2011 9:38 AM EST reply actions

Yep. When Pevs is on his game, Pevs is ON HIS GAME.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Dec 19, 2011 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

I’ve been watching Peverley closely since he was on Atlanta, and the guy obviously has skills. He sounds like a 3rd line player in Boston, but he was on the first line in Atlanta for awhile. It’s just taken him a bit of time to prove it on this team. Pouliot on the other hand, I still can’t see him being all that effective. I’d be just as happy to give Caron time. Hamill looks ok sometimes, and lost other times. Not quite ready I’d say, but obviously the Bruins organization is trying to give him his chance. Maybe this will decide whether he stays or goes.

by I Love Ska on Dec 19, 2011 4:05 PM EST up reply actions