Hartnell's hat trick not enough
Daily News Flyers blog
Hartnell's hat trick not enough
One bone-rattling hit.
Two bitter rivals.
Three fights.
Four lead changes.
Five goals for the Flyers. One less than the Bruins.
Despite two soft goals in which the Flyers blew yet another lead, the Flyers overcame a 5-4 deficit in the final frame thanks to Max Talbot’s redirection with less than 10 minutes to play before falling, 6-5, in a shootout in one of the most entertaining games of the NHL season.
The Bruins are now 24-0-0 when leading by two or more goals in a game.
It was Scott Hartnell, though, who did his best to put a dent in that record. Hartnell scored three consecutive goals - all in the second period, to tie a team record for the most in one period of play - to record the Flyers’ first natural hat trick since Jeff Carter did it on Nov. 11, 2010. Hartnell singlehandedly took the Flyers from down 3-1 to leading 4-3 in a span of 16 minutes.
Hundreds of hats littered the ice at the Wells Fargo Center, as the 19,851 applauded Hartnell's incredible weekend with 5 goals in back-to-back games. Claude Giroux had the primary assist on all 3 of Hartnell's goals.
Sunday’s insanity started in the first 10 seconds, when Boston’s Chris Kelly was sprung on a breakaway off the opening draw.
Patrice Bergeron scored 40 seconds later on the next shift, as the Bruins - who are now 27-6-2 since Nov. 1 - implanted images of their last visit to Philadelphia, a 6-0 drubbing on Dec. 17, in the Flyers’ heads.
Then, Tom Sestito and Milan Lucic dropped the gloves to set the tone for what would be a Bloody Sunday. Brayden Schenn followed that by railroading Bruins defenseman Steven Kampfer just 9:37 into the game, when he caught Kampfer rushing the puck up the ice with his head down.
Schenn answered for his clean hit - with his hands and elbows down, and his skates grounded on the ice - by squaring off with Kelly near the benches.
Kampfer never returned to the ice, playing just 2:45 before leaving with an apparent concussion.
Before Schenn’s monstrous, Talbot importantly answered on the scoresheet for the Flyers just 41 seconds after Sestito’s fight. Unlike Dec. 17, the Flyers weren't going down without a fight.
Somehow, despite spending 4:24 of the first 9:01 of the first period down at least one man, the Flyers escaped the initial frame trailing just 2-1. And that’s when Hartnell took over.
Overall, the Flyers and Bruins combined for 68 minutes in penalties and countless blood lost. Old Time Hockey on a Sunday afternoon.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Hard fought game by the Flyers with their injuries and the 2 goals the ref giftwrapped the Bruins in the first. 2 words of advice to Lavy, first put Bob in for the shootout, I don't care how cold he is, have him start stretching when OT starts. #2 stop putting Simmonds as one of the shooters, maybe go with the hot hand Hartnell?— Sidewinder7- That's exactly what I feel! Bob can't be any worse in goal for the shootout since Bryz has not stopped a shot yet, according to Jackson! — erniebanks14
- Bryz absolutely SUCKS!!! Plain and simple fact.— shawnmac
- Well, shawnmac, Bryz talks a good game! — erniebanks14
- Why does Lavy always choose to shoot first? Also, you have a hot shooter why wouldn't you go with him? Simmonds?— Howe2
- Can we please for the love of god make Bob the number one goaltender. Yea, you paid this guy lots of money but we need to win games and lot bite our nails every time the puck is near our goal. Also, im really confused at why you go with Matt Read, don't get me wrong I love this kid, but on a shootout when he is 0/1 in his life? Bryz needs to sit down, the only games he wins are the ones that the Flyers dont even let the puck near him.— FLPhilaFan
- Jim Jackson stated that Bryzgalov has not had a save in a shootout yet this year. Why then doesn't Lavy take him out and put in Bobrovsky for the shootout? And I don't want to hear that Bob wouldn't be ready coming off the bench. Anything would be better than a goalie who hasn't stopped one yet!— erniebanks14
- Bryzgalov is an absolute joke— pflynn20
I was screened....It was deflected....It was a lucky bounce....I just need more time to build my confidence.
P.S. Avs 3 shoot out goals on 3 shots vs the sieve
Bruins 2 shoot out goals on 2 shots vs the sieve
Yo Lavi! Play Bobrovsky!!- Love Simmonds, but he is a third line winger, he shouldn't be penalty shots but your (one time) 4th line center should be, Couturier has alot more skill, Harnell the hot hand. Bryz also didn't look well on the Lucic goal or the wraparound. I hate ragging on the guy, but he can't put together 2 good starts in a row.— Sidewinder7
- Solid game by the Orange and Black! Boys wore their colors proud today!! Loved the line up, Shelly, Sestito, and Big Bad Schenn...!! Hard fought game, good job boys! Bryz let a couple softs in, and was Bryz in the shoot out, ( not a bad game, made some key saves, but maybe the wrong choice in net today ) other than that lots to be really happy about! In our building, players on the other team had to pay a price if they wanted the puck! Our boys made them pay! We deserved the Win.... just the one point, but regained some self respect after the last blow out.— Dfirst
- I don't know what you Bryz-haters are talking about, those two shootout goals were clearly the defense' fault. They just let them come right in and left Bryz out to dry!— spearmintier
- Very good hockey game, don't blame Bryz again as Gustavsson failed to clear the crease on the Bruins' go-ahead goal. Otherwise he held the fort. Offensive-minded Flyboys without Prongs, Jags, JVR and Briere (!) looked so much better than in the last game against the Stanley Cup-defending champs but sadly lost again despite a wholehearted effort. Sestito was a good call-up, just as some on this board suggested. Harts was superb and G is picking it up again. No sweep again this offseason!!— flyerdommo
- This just has to stop... the insanity of playing Brzy is just killing everyone.
Including the hometown crowd. I counted 3 Bronx cheers.
The team has to be whispering under their breath for a switch, but doesn't want to tick off their ultimate boss Ed (yes, Ed Synder, not Mr. Synder... why does everyone still call him Mr.?)
He Ed... swallow your ego and play the better goalie.
Not only is he 0 for whatever in shootouts, but he once again gave up 2 soft goals.— MarkusAllen - A couple softies....other than that, lots to be real happy about! Good line up! Sestito. Shelly, and who would have know...Schenn! Made the Bruins pay a price for touching the puck! Boys wore their Orange & Black Proud tonight! Backed each other up, and played Flyer hockey! Real exciting game to watch! We deserved the 2 points, but we'll take one and take back some of the pride we gave away the last time we played these Clowns!— Dfirst
