Flyers defeat the Bruins 2-1 in an Eastern Conference battle

[Drew]

BEANTOWN BEATDOWN
http://www.flyershive.com/pgh/PGH1027.jpg

BOSTON (AP) -- Martin Biron stopped 37 shots and Mike Richards had a short-handed goal to lift Philadelphia to a 2-1 win over Boston on Saturday in a game marred by Flyers defenseman Randy Jones' ferocious hit on Bruins center Patrice Bergeron.

Bergeron lost consciousness and was taken from the ice on a stretcher during the first period after he was hammered into the boards face first by Jones. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital and was being treated by Bruins team physician Dr. Bertram Zarins.

Medical personnel cut away Bergeron's jersey and shoulder pads as they worked on him, placing his neck in a brace. They placed him on a board and then onto a stretcher, his legs taped together and his arms folded across his chest. There was little sign of movement. The game was delayed some 15 minutes with 3:53 left in the first period.

Video of the hit:
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Jones drew a 5-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.

The win snapped the Flyers' two-game losing streak and handed the Bruins their first home loss of the season.

Biron yielded only a second-period power play goal to Marco Sturn and lifted his record to 7-2 as the Flyers moved to 7-3. One of Biron's saves was a penalty shot by Phil Kessel.

Richards assisted on Joffrey Lupol's power goal at the 13-minute mark of the second period as the Bruins lost for the second time in their last seven games and fell to 3-1 at home.

[Jlg-28]

other then the bad hit by jones and some defensive lapse It sounded like we played ok, I didn't see the game so I can't really saw how we looked, I am sure there is still some room for improvement, but they got the W and that what they needed. I am sure they still need to cut down on the shots on goal but at least they have a goalie back there that can stop them on a regular basis.

[Chris]

ZOMGZZZZZZZ banz him for life!!!!

I'm glad Bergeron's going to be alright, but in my opinion, this was partially his own doing.

When you're learning to play hockey, it's reinforced time and time again not to turn your back when there's a charging defender coming on. It's almost against your own natural instinct, but you don't put yourself in that vulnerable position. He did.

Jones might have put a little more force into the hit than he should have, but to say he had time to stop and avoid the hit is absolutely ridiculous.

I expect him to be suspended, which is totally ridiculous. But because of what happened with Boulerice and Downie, Campbell is going to have a chip on his shoulder when it comes to us.

It wasn't exactly the cleanest hit, but to say it was "dirty" like Claude Julien says is a bit much.

[Eric]

i just saw on the news that the bruins GM..i think said he left his feet..

uhhh no, i didnt see his feet leave the ice.

[Chris]

In no way did he leave his feet. That's a ridiculous statement to make.

Your player put himself in a vulnerable position and paid for it. Move on.

[Drew]

It wasn't exactly the cleanest hit, but to say it was "dirty" like Claude Julien says is a bit much.

He's talking out of his ass because he feels the urge to defend his players. Bottom line. Julien is a tool.

[dutch74]

the thing that worries me about the Flyers so far this season is how many shots on goal they're allowing. Biron (and Nitty for that matter) is facing over 30 shots a night... many times close to 40 (or above). That's troubling because it means two things...

1) Biron is seeing a lot of rubber. Even if they're low percentage shots, those shot totals tend to wear down a goalie after awhile (especially concerning because Biron is not in his 20's anymore)

2) The Flyers D and forecheck isn't doing their job. This is one area of serious improvement for the team. They are playing well in many ways but this is a significant intangible that they need to nail down.

Overall, there's much less to complain about this year and I happy for that. Still, they need to continue to improve to stay an elite team (and get that first line working some magic again!)