NHL OUTDOORS
Bruins top Flyers off Lake Tahoe
STATELINE — After going through the handshake line following a lopsided win, the Boston Bruins gathered at center ice for one last team photo.
It truly was a picture-perfect day for the Bruins at Lake Tahoe.
David Pastrnak had three goals and Boston took control by scoring three times in a span of 1:39 during the second period to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 7-3 on Sunday in a scenic outdoor game.
“It was beautiful,” Pastrnak said. “I think personally playing in both conditions, the sun and the dark was great. The dark is beautiful, too. You get to play outside. Overall it was an unbelievable experience.”
After a delay-filled opening game of the weekend between Colorado and Golden Knightss because of bright sun that made for poor ice conditions, the game Sunday went off with fewer hitches. The Bruins’
high level of play matched the picturesque setting .
Pastrnak scored in the opening minute of the first two periods and then again late in the third to give him his second hat trick in three games against the Flyers. Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic
and Nick Ritchie scored in succession late in the second to give Boston five wins in five games this year against Philadelphia.
Charlie Mcavoy also scored and Tuukka Rask made 16 saves for Boston.
“Hats off to the NHL and
everyone who made this happen. It was really special,” said defenseman John Moore, who had two assists.
Joel Farabee, Sean Couturier and James van Riemsdyk scored for the short-handed Flyers, who have six players on the
COVID-19 list.
“In the second period, a couple of shifts got away from us,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. “Such a strong team. They capitalize on opportunities from start to finish.”
The start was delayed because there was sun glare on the ice, and players said it was hard to see in the first period.
“It wasn’t easy, obviously. The hardest part was probably the first with all the sun,” Couturier said. “Being blinded by the sun in some places, it was kind of dangerous sometimes. But it was the same thing for both teams.”