Flyers at Bruins

Even though it’s the preseason, the Boston Bruins’ comeback victory in Philadelphia on Saturday will result in a challenged road team for tonight’s tilt at TD Garden (7 pm, NESN, 98.5). Coach Rick Tocchet will be as concerned with how individuals care about this result as much as they do their own performances.

FIRST PERIOD

Jeremy Swayman is making his first start of the preseason, and through 7:41 of play, the Bruins have allowed no shots. Philly did get a very early slot attempt, but Swayman challenged the shooter, who missed the right post. Not officially a stop for Swayman, but he affected a miss.

Alex Steeves plays a smart game. He lacks speed but is strong positionally and make excellent decisions, wins pucks, reliable at both blue lines. I wouldn’t mind seeing him get half the chances Matej Blumel has gotten to produce alongside the team’s top talent.

Good puck win by Casey Mittelstadt on the D-zone boards in battle with the pesky Bobby Brink.

Flyers D Emil Andrae goes to the penalty box for roughing with 6:25 left in the opening period. Bruins to the powerplay: McAvoy RP, Pastrnak LP, Elias Lindholm Cquarterbcking down low with Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie rotating. Second unit: Mittelstadt QB, Blumel and Matt Poitras up front, Hampus Lindholm and Viktor Arvidsson. Entries didn’t go well for the second unit.

In the vulnerable minute (thank you, Jack Edwards), Swayman makes two saves.

No score, 3:59 remaining upon the TV timeout.

Shots after one period: 5-3 Boston

Rink Rap: This is where I note that every time I looked up the play was structured and showed effort, and also recall the good ol’ days when a pro scout such as the great Peter Mahovlich would pound his fist and yell, “Let’s get this thing goin!” So, while I don’t indict this game on a statistical basis, I fully anticipate some rock ’em, sock ’em in the second period.

SECOND PERIOD

Nicolas Deslauriers goes to the box at 6:06 for tripping Nikita Zadorov, who is on his knees when Deslauriers approaches him, apparently to protest the call. Zadorov shoves at Deslauriers and quickly regains his feet, but by then Deslauriers is escorted toward the box.

Two big doorstep saves by former Bruin Dan Vladar on Mittelstadt. Arvidsson and Blumel were also in the vicinity.

Pressure by David Pastrnak’s line with Elias Lindholm (whose shot off the side of the net faked out the corner sections into celebrating a goal – that always happens on those) and Morgan Geekie. Bruins ramping it up in the second, shots are 5-2.

Swayman waited too long to bank a puck off the end boards and turned it over. One centering pass later, it was 1-0 Philadelphia. Timing is everything. Noah Cates converted from the slot. Tyson Foerster and Brink with the assists at 13:38.

Less than a minute later, Pastrnak goes out for holding defenseman Hunter McDonald. sending Philly to the powerplay.

Deslauriers and Tanner Jeannot were out on the same shift, and guess what happened: The Bruins scored, as prodigal checking center Sean Kuraly roof-tipped a goalmouth feed from Pastrnak to tie the score at 1-1. Jeannot took a hit to free the puck for Pastrnak to make the play at 16:46.

Six-foot-four Latvian center Rodrigo Abols collects a well-placed punt by RW Alexis Gendron, goes 1v1 down right wing with Boston defenseman Billy Sweezey and, from high right circle, snaps a wrister off the far post and in. Flyers go ahead 2-1 with 24 seconds left in the period.

The Bruins get a bounce and cause a scare, but no conversion and it’s 2-1 Philly at second intermission. Shots after two: 11-10 Boston.

Swayman showing rust with his timing handling the puck, but Abols’ shot was impressive.

THIRD PERIOD

Charlie McAvoy to Pastrnak, wide. Crowd groans.

Penalty on the Bruins, Geekie for boarding at 1:00.

Short-handed 2-on-1 from McAvoy up to Jeannot, holds, across to Zacha, he hits the post.

Flyers with chances on the PP at the other end.

Foerster is a force, physical forward.

Bruins counter, Pastrnak to Elias Lindholm, cross-ice pass, but the angle is too sharp.

Swayman stops on Abols off the rush.

Bruins have too many men at 4:32, Philly back on PP.

Kuraly got greedy in the O-zone, turned it over, but Minten’s back pressure bothers Brink just enough for support to poke away the puck and deny a zone entry.

Swayman with a big save on Nikita Grebenkin in front. Steeves takes a high hit from Andrae to get the puck out.

Arvidsson buried into the boards by Dennis Gilbert.

Bruins get pressure, but Matt Poitras and Zacha miss the net. Swayman stops Gendron on a partial at the other end, then Geekie is all alone and his shot goes off Vladar and in, 2-2, at 11:41. Elias Lindholm with the assist.

Track meet now.

Poitras and Mittelstadt got pinned in their own zone. Poitras looked like he was trying to play the center position as the Flyers cycled and worked for shots. Swayman gobbled up the eventual tumbling muffin (thanks Jack Edwards).

This game is going to 3v3 overtime, so we’re going to shut this down and be on time for postgame.

Expect more moves from management over the next 24 hours.

Drive safely.