Flyers 2 - 3 Bruins
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Bryzgalov-led Flyers hope to stay hot, keep Bruins slumping

Mar 17, 2012 - 1:55 PM (Sports Network) - Ilya Bryzgalov's shutout streak may be over, but the Philadelphia goaltender's string of victories is still intact.

The Flyers hope that Bryzgalov can extend his personal win streak to eight straight outings this afternoon and deal the Boston Bruins a fifth straight defeat in the process.

Bryzgalov had struggled for much of the season after signing a nine-year, $51 million deal with the Flyers, but hasn't lost since Feb. 28. He has four shutouts over his win streak, including three straight heading into Thursday's meeting with the Islanders.

Though Bryzgalov did not register a fourth straight shutout, he did run his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 249 minutes and 43 seconds before getting beat for a goal with 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation. He was touched one more time, but the Flyers still edged out a 3-2 victory for their seventh win in eight games.

In the process, Bryzgalov broke John Vanbiesbrouck's previous franchise shutout streak mark of 227:40 that was set from Oct. 17-26, 1999.

"We set the new record," Bryzgalov said, careful again to spread the accomplishment among his teammates. "I just (want) to say congratulations to the organization and the players who played these games."

Claude Giroux scored his career-high 26th goal of the season, Scott Hartnell added his team-leading 33rd tally and Zac Rinaldo also lit the lamp. Those offensive performances helped Philadelphia stay two points behind Pittsburgh for fourth overall in the Eastern Conference.

The Flyers will host the Penguins on Sunday to begin a five-game homestand and are also two points ahead of the Devils in the East. Pittsburgh and New Jersey battle each other this afternoon as well.

The Bruins will hope that Bryzgalov has cooled off a bit as their season-high losing streak reached four straight games with Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers. Boston's sixth loss in eight games now has it one point behind Ottawa for first place in the Northeast Division following the Senators' victory on Friday night. Ottawa hosts Toronto this evening.

Joe Corvo and Brian Rolston scored goals on Thursday, while Tim Thomas yielded all six goals on 29 shots. Boston has been beat up for 21 goals over its four- game slide.

"This is Twilight Zone-ish," said Thomas. "I don't know what we did, but we did something to put luck not in our favor, that's for sure."

Boston is trying to avoid dropping five contests in a row for the first time since a 10-game slide from Jan. 16-Feb. 6, 2010.

The Bruins have won four of five and seven of their past nine versus the Flyers, netting at least five goals in four of those contests.

Philadelphia has won five of its past seven trips to Boston.






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