Taking things outside did not flip the one-sided 2021 rivalry between the Bruins and Flyers, which remained completely in Boston’s favor Sunday behind a 7-3 beatdown at Lake Tahoe.
This latest victory began in familiar fashion, too, as David Pastrnak opened things up with a goal on the Flyers’ Carter Hart just 34 seconds into this contest.
The Flyers countered with goals from Joel Farabee and Sean Couturier, but a Charlie McAvoy tally brought these teams even through 20 minutes, and the Bruins were off to the races.
What an absolute snipe from David Pastrnak.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 22, 2021
3-2 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/VKJM58FpvU
After Pastrnak turned an on-edge puck into an absolute rip through Hart just 46 seconds into the middle frame, the Bruins finished their period with three goals in a 99-second stretch.
That party started with a much-needed goal from Charlie Coyle, continued with Trent Frederic’s first career tally, and concluded with a Nick Ritchie tip off a Johnny Moore power-play blast.
What a place to score your first career NHL goal.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 22, 2021
Trent Frederic makes it 5-2. pic.twitter.com/2UI1bM3Bio
This was about as complete a period as the Bruins could have played, too, with the Bruins scoring more goals (four) than shots allowed (three) in that middle frame.
And though the Flyers brought themselves within three behind a James van Riemsdyk tally in the third period, it was Pastrnak who put an exclamation mark on this one with his third goal of the evening, scored with 2:56 left in regulation to make this one a four-goal victory for the Bruins.
The three-goal effort was Pastrnak’s second hat trick of the season (his other also came against the Flyers), and gives him 10 hat tricks since the start of the 2016-17 season. Only Alex Ovechkin (12) has tallied more three-goal efforts over that stretch, and Pastrnak has scored the last five B’s hat tricks, marking the first time in franchise history that a player’s recorded five straight hat tricks for Boston.
The victory improved the Bruins to 3-1-0 in outdoor games since 2010, and 2-0-0 against the Flyers in such contests, with Sunday’s victory joining the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park.
The B’s will return home and prepare for a Thursday night road game on Long Island.