Posted: Thursday, October 9, 2014, 3:01 AM
BOSTON - An ineffective power play and a stagnant attack ruined the Flyers' season opener Wednesday night at TD Garden.
So did Chris Kelly.
With 1 minute, 51 seconds left in regulation, Kelly's goal gave the Boston Bruins a 2-1 win before a frenzied crowd.
Adam McQuaid's shot went off goalie Steve Mason's glove and fluttered into the air before dropping near the crease, where Kelly tapped it into the net to snap a 1-1 tie.
The Flyers have lost three straight season openers for the first time since 1991.
The Flyers tied it with 15:41 remaining when Sean Couturier, stationed in front, tipped in Jake Voracek's spin-around pass from the right circle.
With 6:01 to go, Zac Rinaldo went to the penalty box for slashing, but the Flyers did a great job of not allowing the Bruins to get set up during the power play.
The Flyers, who host New Jersey in their home opener Thursday night, had few good scoring chances and rarely tested Boston goalie Tuukka Rask (19 saves).
Boston, the Eastern Conference favorite, took a 1-0 lead on Reilly Smith's first-period power-play goal.
The Flyers were 20th in the NHL in goals allowed last season, and coach Craig Berube says that can be improved by playing smarter, more disciplined hockey.
Translation: Reducing penalties is a must.
Midway through the first period, however, Rinaldo went to the box for high-sticking Torey Krug, and it set up Smith's goal 55 seconds later.
All four Flyers penalty killers dropped down deep to the right side, and Carl Soderberg sent a pass to a wide-open Smith, who beat a helpless Mason from the left circle.
The Flyers led the league in a dubious category last year - most penalty minutes. Rinaldo had, by far, the most penalty minutes (153) on the team.
Boston, aided by its power play, had a 14-7 shots domination in the first period.
Rinaldo drew a penalty early in the second period, a slash against former Flyer Dennis Seidenberg. But it was the shorthanded Bruins who had the best scoring chance while Seidenberg was in the box as Mason (31 saves) stopped Brad Marchand on a two-on-one opportunity.
Rask, who won last season's Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie, was only forced to make a couple of big saves in the first period, stopping R.J. Umberger in close and Nick Grossmann after he took a slick feed from Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.
Early in the second period, Couturier nearly tied the score from out front, but his deflection went wide with Rask scrambling to get into position.
With 9:08 left in the second, Luke Schenn defended Rinaldo after the Flyers' winger was checked into the boards by two Bruins. Schenn and Bobby Robins, who was making his NHL debut at age 32, got into a long, close bout.
Less than two minutes later, the Flyers got their second power play but managed just one shot, though tip-in attempts by Vinny Lecavalier and Wayne Simmonds went just wide. Boston had five clears during the power play.
The Flyers were 0 for 3 on the power play, managing just four shots.
Boston played without top-line center David Krejci, who was sidelined with an unspecified injury.
scarchidi@phillynews.com
@BroadStBull
Posted by Unknown on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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