Kuraly, Marchand lead Bruins past Flyers

PHILADELPHIA — (AP) — Comeback wins are becoming commonplace for the Boston Bruins.

Sean Kuraly and Brad Marchand scored 27 seconds apart in the third period to lead Boston to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night.

Tuukka Rask made 23 saves for the Bruins, who have won seven of eight overall and all four matchups against the Flyers this season.

The Bruins came back from two-goal deficits in their previous two victories before their latest turnaround.

“We’re just deep and have the belief in our room that we’re never out of the game,” Marchand said. “We almost seem to play a little better when we’re down. We know we can come back from any situation.”

Boston has more third-period goals (19) than all other periods and overtime combined (15).

“For us knowing we’re behind, knowing there are goals in that room, you don’t panic,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You need good players and guys who are confident they can come back.”

James van Riemsdyk scored for Philadelphia.

“I like the way we played, like the way we competed, don’t like the final result,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said.

Kuraly netted the game-winner with a wrist shot from above the left circle that beat Brian Elliott on the glove side, went off the post and in with 7:32 remaining. Elliott blamed himself for the loss, and Vigneault said the veteran would like to have Kuraly’s goal back.

Even Kuraly didn’t expect it to go in — although he didn’t act like it.

“I’d be lying if it came off my stick and I thought I was going to score,” he said. “But I’ll put my hands up and pretend.”

Marchand tied the game at 1, scoring on a scramble in front as he was falling to the ground. He has six goals and six assists during an eight-game point streak.

“I was just trying to get in there and get a whack, and luckily it went in,” Marchand said.

The teams next will meet on Feb. 21 as part of the NHL’s outdoor series at Lake Tahoe.

Van Riemsdyk continued his stellar start to the season when he put the Flyers in front with a deflection of Erik Gustafsson’s shot from the point 27 seconds into the third. The power-play score was the sixth goal for the veteran winger, who is among the NHL leaders with 16 points. It also gave him 11 points during a six-game point streak.

The game was scoreless through two periods in a defensive struggle.

Philadelphia’s best opportunity occurred when Joel Farabee was awarded a penalty shot after getting pulled down on a breakaway attempt with 3½ minutes left in the second. But Rask denied Farabee, who tried to shoot low through Rask’s pads.

“That’s a huge save,” Cassidy said. “You need those, especially today when goals are going to be tough to come by. We expect that from Tuuka.”

The Bruins had a couple of chances on a power play with five minutes left in the second, but Elliott made a pair of good saves. First, he denied David Pastrnak with a pad stop before using his right arm to keep Charlie McAvoy’s attempt out of the net.

Pastrnak, who had three goals and an assist in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime win over Philadelphia, had an assist on Marchand’s goal.

BERGERON ON BOARD

Boston center Patrice Bergeron supports the NHL’s new COVID-19 protocols, which include removing the glass behind the players’ bench, requiring meetings to be virtual and restricting the arrival time to 1 hour, 45 minutes prior to a contest.

“You have to adapt and adjust,” Bergeron said. “Our No. 1 goal is to play the season.”

The captain, who played in his 1,100th game, also indicated he would be agreeable to a schedule going forward in which teams play consecutive road games in one city.

“I actually don’t mind it at all,” he said. “Less travel, more rest, easier on the body. The league saves money. It could work for both sides.”

GRITTY GOES UP

Flyers mascot Gritty, a social media sensation, also was impacted by the NHL’s new COVID-19 protocols. The mascot’s new location was in the upper deck after sitting behind the player benches for prior games this season.

HART HURT

Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (back spasms) was unavailable after apparently getting injured in Friday’s morning skate. He was replaced by Alex Lyon. Vigneault indicated prior to the morning skate that Elliott was going to get the start Friday night. Hart, who is listed as day to day, reportedly left the morning skate early.

Also out for the Flyers was defenseman Phil Myers because of an upper-body injury.

FIGHT NIGHT

Philadelphia’s Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Boston’s Connor Clifton dropped the gloves in the first period. It was the first Flyers fight of the season. Clifton landed some big upper-cut shots in the duel.

UP NEXT

Bruins: After scheduled home games against Buffalo on Saturday and Monday were postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the Sabres, the Bruins will have off until Wednesday when they visit the Rangers.

Flyers: Play the first of two straight against Washington on Sunday.

Cox Media Group