Flyers come home...and lose

Now that I'm back in the Lord's Icebox until March 9th, I won't have the liberty of watching each Flyers game on Comcast SportsNet. The days they play the Devils or Rangers, though, I'll be able to catch the games on FSN and MSG, respectively. So I didn't get to see tonight's unfortunate loss to the Boston Bruins.

Without seeing the game, I can only go by the facts and make as accurate an analysis as possible. That being said, I'm impressed by the team's resilience after falling behind 3-1 early in the 3rd period. They did just enough to get the point today when it seemed like they'd be walking away from this one-game homestand with nothing.

From what I'm reading on the game, it looks like Nittymaki made an interesting decision in overtime which led to the game-winner. Nitty's hot streak seems to have come to an end, culminating with that final decision to come way out of the crease in overtime. However, I'm still very happy with the way he has played over the last five games and I'm confident Philly will have goaltending stability through the end of the season. That's something we've lacked in past postseasons, and if we make it this year, there's a lot of talent (it seems) between Biron and Nittymaki.

- Penalty kill appeared to hurt us tonight. A 60% conversion rate will lose you most games to competent teams.
- Another multi-point game from Jeff Carter. I like to see such things.
- Next three games are important. Flyers go up against three teams that are below them in the standings, including the hot-as-hell Capitals and the suddenly streaking Islanders.
- 22-15-5, 49 points, 3rd place in Atlantic, 4 points behind New Jersey.

The game versus Boston marks the first game of the second half of the season. As of 8 pm on Saturday night, the Devils trail Buffalo 2-0 at the 1st intermission, the Rangers lead Montreal 2-0 after one, and the Penguins are tied with Florida, 1-1 at the end of one as well. If the Devils game holds, the Flyers will go into tomorrow's game still 4 points back in the Atlantic.

-ajd