Flyers suffer another late defeat, drop 3rd straight

The goal that started it all for the Flyers was a point shot by Matt Hunwick of the Toronto Maple Leafs that hit Michael Del Zotto and sailed past Steve Mason.

That was last Tuesday. The goal with 7.5 seconds left a week ago started what is now a three-game losing streak for the Flyers, who were victimized again by the late goal allowed.

Brett Connolly came up with a deflection that beat Michal Neuvirth with 1:54 to play to give the Boston Bruins a 3-2 win over the Flyers on Monday night at Wells Fargo Center.

The Bruins would get an early power play and connect as Patrice Bergeron picked up his 19th goal of the season. A quick cycle ended with a centering pass to the slot from Ryan Spooner to Bergeron. Bergeron's initial shot was blocked, but he followed up on the chance and scored on the rebound with a shot that went under Neuvirth.

Late in the first, the second-ranked power play in the NHL got another chance. This time, it was Brad Marchand getting the goal. Zdeno Chara took a pass from Colin Miller and worked along the half boards before completing a laser-like cross-ice pass to Marchand who one-timed it past Neuvirth.

The Bruins outshot the Flyers, 16-8, in the first period.

The fortunes turned for the Flyers a bit in the second when just two seconds into the period, the Flyers got a power play as Marchand was called for tripping.

The Flyers failed to score on the man-advantage, but quickly were given another as Dennis Seidenberg was called for tripping.

It took the Flyers just seven seconds to strike as a shot from the blue line by Shayne Gostisbehere got through and the rebound went right to Brayden Schenn, who feathered a pass to Wayne Simmonds for the goal. It was Simmonds' 13th of the season.

The Flyers would get two more power plays by the 10:57 mark of the season, but could not capitalize. The Flyers went on to outshoot the Bruins, 15-6, in the middle frame.

In what was playing out as a methodical, yet exciting, third period, the Flyers would finally even things up at the 12:08 mark.

It was Simmonds again, getting a juicy rebound in front off a long shot by Jake Voracek and burying it for his second goal of the game.

But the late-game bounces would go against the Flyers again as a deflected by Connolly put the Bruins in front with 1:54 to play.

The Flyers outshot the Bruins, 36-32, as Tuukka Rask made 34 saves in the win. Neuvirth made 29 saves in the loss.

The Flyers have one remaining game in January before this weekend's All-Star festivities, traveling to face the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. Game time is at 8 p.m.

Scoring Summary

• 1st Period
  • BOS Patrice Bergeron (19) PP (Ryan Spooner, David Krejci) – 5:04
  • BOS Brad Marchand (20) PP (Zdeno Chara, Colin Miller) – 17:27
• 2nd Period
  • PHI Wayne Simmonds (13) PP (Brayden Schenn, Shayne Gostisbehere) – 3:45
• 3rd Period
  • PHI Wayne Simmonds (14) (Jake Voracek, Michael Del Zotto) – 12:08
  • BOS Brett Connolly (7) (Zdeno Chara, Kevan Miller) – 18:06

Penalty Summary

• 1st Period
  • PHI Michael Raffl – 2:00 holding – 4:04
  • PHI Michael Del Zotto – 2:00 slashing – 15:47
• 2nd Period
  • BOS Brad Marchand – 2:00 tripping – 0:02
  • BOS Dennis Seidenberg – 2:00 tripping – 3:38
  • BOS Zach Trotman – 2:00 interference – 5:00
  • BOS Jimmy Hayes – 2:00 hooking – 10:57
  • PHI Mark Streit – 2:00 hooking – 19:36
• 3rd Period
  • PHI Wayne Simmonds – 2:00 high-sticking – 18:22
  • BOS Torey Krug – 2:00 tripping – 18:57

Game Statistics

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.