Game 35 Live Blog: Boston Bruins @ Philadelphia Flyers

Here are five thoughts from the second period with the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers locked in a 2-2 tie score after the opening 40 minutes at TD Garden.

• The Bruins ended up being outshot by a 25-7 margin while getting totally stormed by the Flyers in the second period. It just highlights how much the Bruins struggle in both the defensive coverage the puck moving departments when they’re missing their No. 1 defenseman in Charlie McAvoy. The tape of the second period should go on McAvoy’s Norris Trophy resume for this season.

• Kevan Miller hasn’t played in six weeks and he’s leading the Bruins defensemen corps with over 17 minutes of ice time. That’s pretty much the picture of the B’s D corps right now with Jakub Zboril getting benched after struggling mightily in the second period.

• Ah, yes. Zboril. He fell down while trying to take the puck up the middle of the ice in the defensive zone and that led to the first goal for the Flyers. Then he was on ice for the Shayne Gostisbehere rocket that tied it up as he hit the bench immediately afterward for a team desperate fore blueline help right now.

• Can you imagine letting 25 shots on net with a rookie in net? Man, the Bruins aren’t doing much to protect their rookie goaltender in his first NHL start. But luckily for them Jeremy Swayman is up to the talk while stopping 36 shots and counting through two periods of play.

• Still trying to figure out how Trent Frederic got a roughing penalty when it was JVR that threw Craig Smith against the sideboards in front of the Bruins bench.

Here are five thoughts from the first period with the Boston Bruins leading the Philadelphia Flyers by a 2-0 score after the opening 20 minutes at TD Garden.

• Jeremy Swayman was tremendous in the first period and showed everything that makes him a future No. 1 guy at the NHL level. He tracked a redirection in the slot from Joel Farabee to make a ho-hum glove save and then stuffed Scott Laughton on a breakaway that ended up turning into Boston’s second goal of the period. He was the size, the athleticism, the ability to track pucks, the glove hand and the tremendous poise that can make for a special goalie at the NHL level, and he showed it all in the opening 20 minutes. Now it’s up to Swayman to keep it going, but he’s looked like a genuine special NHL talent since all the way back in NHL training camp in January when he was excellent in the mix with the other goalies.

Huge breakaway stop from Jeremy Swayman on the Bruins’ power play.

Bergeron makes it a 2-0 game just seconds later. pic.twitter.com/jOHWygpkOf

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 6, 2021

• How about Patrice Bergeron scoring two goals in the first period tonight? Do you think he is a little motivated after falling down in OT trying to play defense to open the door for the game-winning goal on Monday night?

• So far, so good for the Boston Bruins playing without Charlie McAvoy, who is out with an upper body injury tonight. The top pairing of Matt Grzelcyk and Kevan Miller have survived and allowed the Bruins to take a two-goal lead while moving the puck and doing whatever is necessary defending. Amazingly, Miller led all players in ice time during the first period. They just have to hope that McAvoy can return quickly to the lineup.

• Rough five-hole goal allowed by Carter Hart on the Patrice Bergeron score at the end of the period. What has happened to that kid in Philly?

• Two shots on net for Karson Kuhlman in the first period after scoring on a snipe in Monday night’s game. Is there perhaps more offense to the 25-year-old’s game than he’s shown at the NHL level at this point?