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Quick spurt in third helps Bruins top Flyers

Feb 5, 2009 - 5:13 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Martin Biron did not have a chance, but that meant nothing to the Boston Bruins.

David Krejci and defenseman Dennis Wideman scored 35 seconds apart early in the third period, leading the Bruins to a 3-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.

Michael Ryder also tallied while Krejci and Wideman added assists for Boston, which has won 10 of its last 11 road games.

"I think that if you go around the NHL, every team in the league talks about being a good road team," Bruins All-Star goaltender Tim Thomas said. "We've played pretty good road games. When we've played well at home, we've played a simple game, getting the pucks deep and not making turnovers. We've done the same on the road, and that helps us."

Thomas made 25 saves for the Bruins, who improved to 5-0-2 in their last seven contests overall.

"We did seem to get better as the game went on. The third period was our better period," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "It seems that we've had different guys coming up big for us. Each night, it has been a different guy who has been a hero, if you want to call them that, and that has been a key to our success."

Scott Hartnell scored the lone goal and Biron stopped 30 shots for Philadelphia, which lost for just the second time in its last 11 home games.

"We got a little frustrated with their checking game," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "They can create a lot of turnovers from the checking side of the game, and they have people that can hurt you going the other way. Boston is a great example of a team that can do it."

With the game even at 1-1, Krejci put the Bruins ahead for good at 5:48 of the third. Defenseman Shane Hnidy unleashed a wrist shot from the right point that the 22-year-old Czech deflected off the left arm of Biron and into the net for his 19th goal of the season and a 2-1 lead.

Before Biron could recover, Boston doubled its advantage. Again from the right point, Wideman ripped a slap shot that caromed off the skate of Philadelphia's Jeff Carter and past the screened goaltender at 6:23.

"We had a couple of lucky ones," Wideman said. "The first one (by Krejci) was a seeing-eye shot (by Hnidy) that got through, and mine went off a couple of players and went in. Sometimes you get those bounces. We got guys who went to the net and made big plays."

"We did what the coaches wanted to do," added Boston rookie Blake Wheeler, who recorded the primary assist on Wideman's goal. "We got the puck to the point, and they took the shots. We had guys in front of the net taking away the goalie's eyes. Fluky goals go in that way, but at the same time, those are the same goals that win these kinds of games."

Biron was unhappy with both the Bruins' last two goals and his own team's overall effort.

"It was a couple of bad bounces, and that made the difference in the game," Biron said. "I think with the effort and the way we skated, we did a pretty good job. Unfortunately, a pretty good job is not good enough on most nights in the NHL. We have got to do better."

Following a scoreless first period, Ryder got the Bruins on the board just over three minutes into the second. Beginning Boston's trend of shots from the right point, Wideman let go a wrister that Ryder redirected by Biron at 3:07 for his 19th of the campaign.

It took Philadelphia less than 2 1/2 minutes to respond, however. From below the right faceoff circle, Joffrey Lupul threaded a pass to Hartnell, who beat Thomas from alone on the left side of the crease at 5:24 for his 19th tally.

The Flyers, who registered just 12 shots on goal over the final two periods, were without captain Mike Richards, right wing Scottie Upshall and defenseman Braydon Coburn due to the flu.

"You can't replace Richards or Coburn, but at the same time, you have others that come in and have an opportunity," Stevens said.

The teams meet again in Boston on Saturday, and Philadelphia hopes to have some of its ill players back.

"When you have guys like Richie not feeling well and other big-minute guys out, it puts a lot of stress on everyone else," Hartnell said. "You can't do that against the best team in the East. We need to go in their building and do what they did to us."