BSJ Game Report: Bruins 4, Flyers 2 - Swayman stands tall as B's secure 2 vital points against Flyers

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 4-2 win over the Flyers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

HEADLINES

Swayman stands on head 

Going from just nine games of pro experience down in Providence to a starting gig in a pivotal NHL contest in Philadelphia might have been a major ask for Jeremy Swayman, but the B's young netminder didn't just hold his own on Tuesday night — he just about willed the Bruins to two valuable points in the standings.

A shorthanded Bruins' defense didn't make things easy on the 22-year-old goalie, but Swayman withstood volley after volley from the Flyers,  turning aside 40 of the 42 shots that came his way en route to a standout NHL debut — and a first career win in what was ultimately a 4-2 victory for the B's at Wells Fargo Center.

While Swayman stood tall in net for Boston — especially during a putrid second period in which the B's were outshot, 25-7 — Boston's leaders up front did the heavy lifting in the O-zone, with Patrice Bergeron scoring a hat trick and Brad Marchand (four total points) putting Boston ahead for good with a clutch shorthanded goal at 8:21 in the third period.

Boston couldn't have asked for a better start against a team that entered the night just three points behind them in the East Division standings, with Bergeron finding the back of the net twice in the opening 20 minutes — and Swayman turning aside all 13 shots that he faced, including a shorthanded breakaway bid from Scott Laughton.

The second period, however, was a different story — with Philly scoring twice in less than three minutes to erase the B's strong start. However, it could have been much worse if it wasn't for the play of Swayman, who still managed to make an absurd 23 saves in the middle frame. Boston's poor puck play continued in the third, but the club got a much-needed spark from Marchand, who tucked a puck through Carter Hart's five-hole on a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush with Jeremy Lauzon to give the Bruins the lead once again. Bergeron buried the empty-netter at 19:37 to complete the hat trick and secure Swayman's hard-earned victory.

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It was far from a pretty win — rather you could make the argument that Boston didn't deserve two points based on their poor play beyond the likes of guys like Swayman, Bergeron and Marchand — but in a contest with plenty at stake, the B's big guns (and a rookie netminder) all came through.

McAvoy's loss felt 

One of the primary reasons why Swayman faced a salvo of shots? Boston spent far too much time stuck in molasses and laboring to move the puck out of the D zone with Charlie McAvoy out of commission. The B's were already reeling with key cogs like Rask, Halak and Brandon Carlo out of of the lineup, but they were dealt a major blow shortly ahead of puck drop — with McAvoy ruled out of action due to an upper-body injury.

McAvoy has certainly taken his fair share of punishment over the last few weeks while taking on heavy minutes on the blue line — including a nasty crash into the boards during Monday's OT loss to the Flyers.

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And while McAvoy's usage rates, overall D-zone poise and playdriving ability were certainly missed, his absence was most evident in the transition game — with Boston laboring all night when it came to pushing the puck out of its end of the ice and through the neutral zone. As such, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Boston spent most of the night on the ropes, with the Flyers regularly peppering the net against Swayman. The rookie netminder might have bailed out his club on Tuesday, but Boston has to hope that McAvoy, who Bruce Cassidy listed as "day to day" during his postgame presser, is back in short order.

THREE UP

Jeremy Swayman: No doubt about this one. Swayman was simply spectacular in this one — earning the win despite facing the most shots by a Bruins goalie in his first start since Bernie Parent (44 in 1965). Much like Dan Vladar on Monday night, the Bruins would have been in rough, rough shape against Philly if it wasn't for their goalie tandem of the future.

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Brad Marchand: Will he win? Likely no. But Marchand absolutely warrants Hart Trophy consideration for his play this season, especially when it comes to sparking his club during some absolutely dreadful lulls. After recording a pair of helpers on Bergeron's first-period tallies, Marchand helped the B's somehow snatch two points from the Flyers with his shorthanded strike in the third period, while capping off a four-point with the primary helper on Bergeron's empty-net goal. Marchand's game-winning goal stood as his 48th career shorthanded point, breaking a tie with Eddie Westfall and Bobby Orr for the most in Bruins' franchise history.

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Patrice Bergeron: With his hat trick on Tuesday, Bergeron became the fourth Bruin in franchise history to reach the 900-point mark. That top line (and Swayman) just willed the B's to two points in this matchup.

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TWO DOWN

Jakub Zboril: Boston's D corps as a whole labored in this one, but Zboril was particularly dreadful — with the rookie blueliner out on the ice for both of Philly's second-period goals. His miscue on the Flyers' first tally, in which Zboril coughed up the puck while falling on a breakout attempt,  led to Jakub Voracek's goal just a few seconds later. Zboril ended up with just 12:11 of ice time in this one — far and away the lowest total among B's blueliners.

Krejci Line: In the third period, Cassidy said that he shortened his bench to "those who were willing to check and manage the puck." As such, the Ritchie-Krejci-Pastrnak line only logged three total shifts in the third. A game to forget for that trio.

PLAY OF THE GAME

What a sequence here — with Swayman turning aside a shorthanded breakaway

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PARTING THOUGHTS

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

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LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will now continue their road trip on Thursday when they face the Washington Capitals down in D.C. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.