Philly Beats Boston Again, This Time By A 20-Year-Old
The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Boston Bruins Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center by a score of 4-3. The Flyers have now won three straight home games and three of last four overall.
Sean Couturier scored his 17th, 18th, and 19th goals on the season for the hat-trick. It was the second straight game the Flyers had someone score a hat-trick.
Oskar Lindblom got it all started with his 5th on the season. Ending his 30-game goal-less drought.
But, the star of the night was 20-year-old Carter Hart. Hart stopped 39 of the 42 shots he faced. Including a stretch of 34 straight.
Here are 4 more observations from the Flyers 4-3 win over the Bruins…
Carter Hart Is Here To Stay
Imagine the Flyers having a steady goalie for the next 15 years? Now, imagine that starting right now. In what many believed was just a short-term call-up might have turned into the start of Hart’s career in Philadelphia.
Carter Hart, once again, showed why he is the Flyers #1 prospect and a star in the making. Hart stopped 39 of the 42 shots he faced to seal the Flyers win over the Bruins.
After giving up 2 unstoppable goals early in the 1st period, Hart would go on a stretch of saving the next 34 shots he faced. A stretch that saw some highlight reel types of saves.
It is crazy to think it has taken over 20+ years for the Flyers to get a steady goalie. To think Hart is just 20, it is truly amazing what he is doing for his age.
Sean Couturier
Last season, former coach Dave Hakstol moved Claude Giroux to wing to give Sean Couturier a bigger role. A move that was supposed to allow Nolan Patrick to stay with the team. However, it has made a star of the once thought of 3rd-line checking center.
Couturier broke onto the screen as a 18-year-old. An 18-year-old rookie who was tasked with playing close to 17 minutes a night and against some of the leagues best players. But, now, Sean Couturier is amongst the leagues best.
Sean Couturier is one of the leagues best two-way centerman and it showed tonight. Couturier has shown previously he can give you a 20+ minute night performance. Tonight, he showed he can also score while giving that same performance.
Before tonight, Couturier had never had a hat-trick in the regular season. But, had two in the playoffs. Both against the Penguins. Tonight, Couturier shine defensively and offensively, scoring a natural hat-trick to lead the Flyers to victory.
ProtectIng Their Young Net-Minder
When Carter Hart was brought up, the team motto was to protect him at all costs. That showed in Hart’s first few games in the NHL with the Flyers literally laying out for anything and everything in-front of Hart.
However, that somewhat went away. But, tonight, it returned and returned in a big way. The Flyers would block 30 Bruins shots. An effort that hasn’t been there since Hart’s first game.
Protecting Hart was something the Flyers needed to do when throwing a 20-year-old net-minder into the fire the Flyers had. It is good to see that type of effort again in-front of Hart.
Philly vs Boston Is So Much Fun
Normally rivals are close in location. Boston and Philadelphia are over 300 miles apart. But, why is it always a good time when these two cities get together?
Well, it could very much do with the fact that Philly dethroned the almighty Patriots to win their first Super Bowl. It could go all the way back to Dr J and the Sixers repeatedly beating the Celtics year after year.
In any case, when Boston and Philly meet, it is always a good time for both fan bases. But, recently, it has been more fun for Philadelphia. That continued tonight with the Flyers beating a much better Bruins team on the back on a 20-year-old rookie.
It is always good when a Philadelphia team wins. But, it is always better when they do it against Boston for some reason.
Result : Flyers 4 – Bruins 3, WIN
Record : 18 – 23 – 6
Next Game : 1/19 Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Canada, NBCSports Philadelphia 7:00pm