The Flyers simply couldn't handle the B's B-team.
Playing without most of their regulars, the Bruins handled the Flyers' comeback, winning 4-3, dropping the Flyers preseason record to 3-2-1.
Here are my observations from the Wells Fargo Center:
1. The Flyers came to life in the second period, outshooting the Bruins 18-9, but overall, this was by far their worst game of the preseason. Boston rested a lot of their regulars following their exhibition series with the Calgary Flames in China. All of their key players stayed back home, which made this performance that much more disheartening. We should see something closer to the actual Bruins next Saturday in Boston
2. Defenseman Andrew MacDonald had to work on some first period rust. On his second shift of the game, MacDonald turned the puck over horribly in his own zone, which was one gaffe. In the same sequence, MacDonald kicked the puck away from Brian Elliott, who was about to cover up. That sequence eventually led to Peter Cehlarik's goal. MacDonald looked better as the game wore on.
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3. Should Flyers fans have any concern towards Brian Elliott? A little bit as he still appears to be working out the kinks. While the first goal was a series of breakdowns and a failure to clear the zone, the Bruins' second goal - a Brandon Carlo snapshot - was one Elliott has to stop, despite James van Riemsdyk venturing too far down defensively to stop the pass and block the shot. Elliott also faced a couple of shorthanded breakaways. He turned aside Jordan Szwarz coming down the left wing, but was beaten later in the second period by Chris Wagner.
4. I think this was a big game in determining Nicolas Aube-Kubel's future with the team. Having played on a line with skilled players Claude Giroux and Jordan Weal previously, Aube-Kubel was working Jori Lehtera and Dale Weise. In the first period, Aube-Kubel appeared gun shy and passed up on a really good scoring chance from the left circle electing to pass to Phil Myers at his right defense position.
5. Jake Voracek took a nasty hit from Bruins defenseman Steven Kampfer as he nailed Voracek up high into the boards right in front of the Flyers bench. Kampfer was given two minutes for roughing. Voracek was fortunate he wasn't nailed into the boards, where there was a panel of glass or the impact may have led to injury.
6. I don't think Phil Myers has had the outstanding camp, like Travis Sanheim a year ago, that would have guaranteed his place on the roster. In fact, Myers may have regressed a little bit in week two. Myers blindly backhanded a pass straight into the slot which led to Lee Stempniak's slap shot and the Bruins' fourth goal of the game.
7. Michael Raffl gave the Flyers one of his best efforts of the preseason. Raffl was noticeable for most of the game as he was quick to pucks and strong along the boards. Raffl forced the neutral zone turnover that led to Dale Weise's two-on-one shorthanded goal. From that moment, the Flyers scored three goals in a 2:44 third period span.
LINES & PAIRINGS
Forwards
Claude Giroux - Mikhail Vorobyev - Travis Konecny
James van Riemsdyk - Nolan Patrick - Jake Voracek
Nicolas Aube-Kubel - Jori Lehtera- Dale Weise
Scott Laughton - Corban Knight- Michael Raffl
Defensemen
Ivan Provorov - Shayne Gostisbehere
Andrew MacDonald - Christian Folin
Robert Hägg - Phil Myers
Goaltenders
Brian Elliott
Anthony Stolarz
