Post by bruinscage on Nov 8, 2005 8:11:15 GMT -5
Game Preview
Boston Bruins (7-5-4) at Philadelphia Flyers (8-3-1)
Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST
The Philadelphia Flyers will try to extend a pair of winning streaks when they play host to the Boston Bruins at the Wachovia Center.
Philadelphia comes into this contest having won three straight overall and six in a row on home ice.
Boston is looking to match its season high with its third straight win.
Both teams are among the league's best offenses. Philadelphia's 56 goals scored lead the Atlantic Division and is good for third in the Eastern Conference behind Boston (57) and the Ottawa Senators (64).
Philadelphia does have the league's leading goal scorer in Simon Gagne. The six-year veteran recorded his second career hat trick Saturday in the Flyers' 4-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
Eight of his 15 goals have come during a five-game points streak.
"Simon is kind of everywhere right now," Philadelphia's Peter Forsberg said. "He's putting the puck in the net, and he's making me and Mike (Knuble) just enjoy the ride."
Forsberg, a noted free-agent signing after the lockout, has four goals and nine assists during a five-game run. Knuble has four goals and four assists during a four-game streak.
Knuble recorded a career-best 59 points with the Bruins in 2002-03.
Philadelphia goaltender Robert Esche has won his last four games, but is 0-3 all-time against the Bruins, with a 3.58 goals-against average and .866 save percentage.
The Bruins have won two straight after a 6-3 win Saturday over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jiri Slegr had two power-play goals in a 35-second span in the first period and center Joe Thornton also scored twice.
Thornton has four goals and seven assists during a five-game streak. Against Philadelphia, though, he has struggled with just one assist in his last seven games.
Left wing Sergei Samsonov will also to try keep his points streak going. He has three goals and five assists in his last six games.
STANDINGS (through Nov. 7): Bruins - 18 points, 3rd place, 5 PB, Northeast Division. Flyers - 17 points, 2nd place, 2 PB, Atlantic Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Bruins - Glen Murray, 8 goals; Thornton, 17 assists and 23 points; Slegr, 26 PIM. Flyers - Gagne, 15 goals; Forsberg, 21 assists and 25 points; Donald Brashear, 24 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Nov. 7): Bruins - Power play: 19 percent (20 for 105), 13th in NHL. Penalty killing: 84.1 percent (90 for 107), 10th. Flyers - Power play: 20.8 percent (20 for 96), 7th. Penalty killing: 76.4 percent (65 for 85), 28th.
GOALTENDERS: Bruins - Hannu Toivonen (4-1-2, 0, 3.16); Jordan Sigalet (no appearances). Flyers - Esche (6-2-1, 0, 2.89); Antero Niittymaki (2-1-0, 0, 4.59).
2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Bruins, 2-1-1-0.
LAST MEETING: Feb. 28, 2004; Bruins, 3-2 (OT). At Boston, Murray scored 1:21 into overtime and Andrew Raycroft tied the mark for the most wins (22) by a Boston rookie goaltender in 22 years.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Bruins - 3-3-3 on the road; Flyers - 6-1-0 at home
Boston Bruins (7-5-4) at Philadelphia Flyers (8-3-1)
Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST
The Philadelphia Flyers will try to extend a pair of winning streaks when they play host to the Boston Bruins at the Wachovia Center.
Philadelphia comes into this contest having won three straight overall and six in a row on home ice.
Boston is looking to match its season high with its third straight win.
Both teams are among the league's best offenses. Philadelphia's 56 goals scored lead the Atlantic Division and is good for third in the Eastern Conference behind Boston (57) and the Ottawa Senators (64).
Philadelphia does have the league's leading goal scorer in Simon Gagne. The six-year veteran recorded his second career hat trick Saturday in the Flyers' 4-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
Eight of his 15 goals have come during a five-game points streak.
"Simon is kind of everywhere right now," Philadelphia's Peter Forsberg said. "He's putting the puck in the net, and he's making me and Mike (Knuble) just enjoy the ride."
Forsberg, a noted free-agent signing after the lockout, has four goals and nine assists during a five-game run. Knuble has four goals and four assists during a four-game streak.
Knuble recorded a career-best 59 points with the Bruins in 2002-03.
Philadelphia goaltender Robert Esche has won his last four games, but is 0-3 all-time against the Bruins, with a 3.58 goals-against average and .866 save percentage.
The Bruins have won two straight after a 6-3 win Saturday over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jiri Slegr had two power-play goals in a 35-second span in the first period and center Joe Thornton also scored twice.
Thornton has four goals and seven assists during a five-game streak. Against Philadelphia, though, he has struggled with just one assist in his last seven games.
Left wing Sergei Samsonov will also to try keep his points streak going. He has three goals and five assists in his last six games.
STANDINGS (through Nov. 7): Bruins - 18 points, 3rd place, 5 PB, Northeast Division. Flyers - 17 points, 2nd place, 2 PB, Atlantic Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Bruins - Glen Murray, 8 goals; Thornton, 17 assists and 23 points; Slegr, 26 PIM. Flyers - Gagne, 15 goals; Forsberg, 21 assists and 25 points; Donald Brashear, 24 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Nov. 7): Bruins - Power play: 19 percent (20 for 105), 13th in NHL. Penalty killing: 84.1 percent (90 for 107), 10th. Flyers - Power play: 20.8 percent (20 for 96), 7th. Penalty killing: 76.4 percent (65 for 85), 28th.
GOALTENDERS: Bruins - Hannu Toivonen (4-1-2, 0, 3.16); Jordan Sigalet (no appearances). Flyers - Esche (6-2-1, 0, 2.89); Antero Niittymaki (2-1-0, 0, 4.59).
2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Bruins, 2-1-1-0.
LAST MEETING: Feb. 28, 2004; Bruins, 3-2 (OT). At Boston, Murray scored 1:21 into overtime and Andrew Raycroft tied the mark for the most wins (22) by a Boston rookie goaltender in 22 years.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Bruins - 3-3-3 on the road; Flyers - 6-1-0 at home
