There are some games over the course of the regular season in which you know long before the opening faceoff that your team is going to have dig especially deep in order to win the game. That was the case last night in Boston.

First of all, the Flyers knew they were facing a quality Bruins team and a stellar goaltending opponent in Tim Thomas (who had already shut them out on 41 saves earlier this month). On top of that, the Flyers were also at the end of a stretch that saw them play three times in four nights, five times in eight days and three times on the road within a week with a home game in between. Last but not least, the Flyers knew they have a marquee game coming up on Tuesday night, when they take on the streaking Penguins at the Wells Fargo Center.

Everything was set up for the Flyers to have dead legs last night, and a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair seemed to play into Boston's favor. Add in the fact that the Flyers had to kill a five minute penalty during the course of the game -- which saps energy even when successful -- and the chances of coming away with two points seemed even lower.

To their credit, the Flyers battled right on through. Brian Boucher was tremendous in goal. The club came out playing well in the first period, hung tough when the legs started to drag a little later on and found a wave of revived energy in the OT. They played two strong shifts late in the extra frame and topped it off with Mike Richards' game-winner. It was a win they could be proud of.

*****

Peter Laviolette faces an interesting decision for Tuesday night. Does he go with Sergei Bobrovsky, who already owns two wins against the Pens this year (albeit before Pittsburgh hit its stride)? Or does he go with Boucher, who is 4-0-1 in his last five starts with a 1.71 GAA and .951 save percentage?

There is also the fact to consider that the Flyers face a back-to-back next week, traveling to Montreal immediately after the Penguins game. Midseason is approaching rapidly, and we're getting to the point where back-to-back games can be draining on a goalie.

By the way, if you haven't checked the schedule, after the back-to-back games, you aren't going to see much of the Flyers for awhile. They only play two games between Dec. 16 and Dec. 28, with a long Christmas hiatus (no games on Dec. 21-27). From there, the schedule gets nothing short of brutal.

The Flyers will become scarce around the Wells Fargo Center, playing just one home game between Dec. 20 (Florida) and Jan 18 (Washington). The Flyers have a home game against the Devils on Sat. Jan 8, but otherwise play nine of 10 on the road once their Christmas break is over, including a Pacific Coast swing, a stop in Detroit, and a four-game-in-six-night (all road) stretch.

******

Michael Leighton stopped 28 of 30 shots last night, but the Phantoms went down to the Portland Pirates, 2-1, at the Glens Falls Civic Center last night. Both Portland goals came in the third period. Luke Pither scored the lone Phantoms goal.

Leighton has reported feeling better this past week but was still dealing with numbness/weakness in his left foot. After last night's game, he pronounced himself ready to return to the NHL.

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» Lightning Strike Takes Down Jets

» Practice Day, Ersson, Jay Greenberg, A Personal Note

» Flyers Gameday: Game 12 vs. BOS

» Wrap: Brink Lifts Flyers over Blues, 2-1

» Game 11 Preview: Flyers vs. STL