Flyers Drop Their 5th Straight, Losing To The Bruins 4 - 1. Full Game Recap With Highlights

Swagger was definitely on display tonight, but the Bruins were the ones flaunting it. Ullmark came up with huge saves on Noah Cates and Kevin Hayes early and the Bruins confidence gained momentum after the game changing saves. Owning a 15 and 2 record definitely carries swagger with it.

1. Potential Vezina Candidates Face Off:

Linus Ullmark entered the game with a stellar 11 and 1 record, with a .936 save percentage and 1.96 goals against average.

Carter Hart owned a 6 and 2 record heading into action, with a .926 save percentage and a recently inflated 2.42 goals against average, courtesy of the 5-4 overtime loss to Columbus.

Hart gave the Flyers the opportunity to win, making big save after big save early on.

Hart finished the night with 28 saves on 32 shots, but didn't receive much help from his teammates, who allowed the Bruins to move the puck effectively without a lot of pressure and allowed some bang-bang goals.

Ullmark bested Hart, stopping 22 of 23 and kept the Flyers shooters at bay, when his defense gave up golden opportunities. The win should boost Ullmark to the top of the Vezina candidate list.

2. Boston's Top Line:

One of the leagues most complete and consistently lethal lines was Perennial Frank J. Selke candidate and five time winner, Patrice Bergeron and his wingmen Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak had combined to play 2640 games NHL games - all for the Bruins, tally 2332 points, and accumulate a +623 rating.

They had plenty of quality scoring chance but were held in check by the Flyers. Hart absolutely robbed Marchand from a sure goal on the wraparound, fully stretching to hug the post and seal the net off.

3. The Passive PK Is Back:

The Flyers penalty kill was efficient at the beginning of the season, but they seem to be reverting back to their old ways. The pressure on the puck isn't there and players have ample time to setup and work the puck with ease. When the puck does enter the box, the Flyers sticks haven't been as successful at deflecting pucks out of harms way.

4. There Has To Be A Better Way:

When will the madness end? The Philadelphia Flyers inability to gain the zone and set up is beyond frustrating. It isn't exactly a mystery to the defending team; three men on the breakout, the first player swings it, the second skates up the ice with the puck like he's an hour into a bag skate and has nothing left, they draw the lone fore checker and drop it to the last man.

When the puck carrier approaches the blue line the other four players are typically at a complete standstill. Because four players are standing near motionless, the only option available to the puck carrier is trying to beat four defenders himself, or predictably passing to the wall, where the winger has no momentum and can only work a give and go. With four players entering the zone without pace, the sole onus is on one player and the defense can easily key on that. There simply has to be a better option involving multiple players entering at speed.

The Flyers power play coach, Rocky Thompson, can get a good idea of how to enter the zone on the man advantage by watching tonight's game video, as the Bruins entered with relative ease, got the puck deep, and we're able to set up consistently.

5. A Missed Call Resulted In The Back Breaker Goal:

Provorov took a two handed chop to the gloves, in plain view of the ref, but the arm stayed down. With Provorov being the last man back and the hack directly resulting in a turnover; that call has to be made.

6. Another Key Injury:

If things weren't already bleak enough on the injury front, Travis Konecny left the game on a rather innocent looking play. Konecny appeared to jam his right wrist into Charlie McAvoy's back as he pressed on the forecheck. He immediately peeled his glove off to check his hand/wrist and did not return to the game.

If Konecny is out for any length of time, the Flyers could find themselves out of the playoff picture before the Christmas break.

Philadelphia takes on the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night in the Bell Centre and will look to get back into the win column.