Bruins Get Shut Out By Flyers, 2-0, and Somebody Explain the Giveaways to Me

Okay, hockey people, bear with me — I stand with the drums for a different sport, but a 2-0 shutout translates in any language: somebody didn't finish, and somebody in net stole the show. The Flyers beat the Bruins 2-0 on Thursday, and the story isn't that Boston got outplayed. It's that Philly's goaltender was a wall and Boston's finishing touch was, let's say, on vacation.

Matvei Michkov opened it 4:02 into the first, backhanding home a loose puck after Helge Grans' point shot deflected in front — Porter Martone and Grans got the assists. On the replay, Charlie McAvoy actually had a good look on a breakaway before that, denied. That's the theme early: chances both ways, nobody converting except Philly. Cole Knuble made it 2-0 with 2:57 left in the third off a Jacob Gaucher–Jett Luchanko sequence in tight.

And the box score is the wild part here: Boston out-shot nobody, tied Philly 28-28, and still lost by two clean goals. Michael DiPietro stopped 26 of 28 (.929) in net, which is a solid night wasted. On the other end, Joseph Woll stopped all 28 he faced — a shutout, capped by a desperation glove save late that on the replay looked like a legitimate highlight-reel robbery off McAvoy.

The number that should worry the gaffer types: 25 giveaways for Boston against just 1 takeaway, and 0-for-3 on the power play. Faceoffs were rough too, 42.9% won. You can out-hit a team (21-16, Bruins) and out-block them (16-12) and still lose if you're handing the puck back that often.

Gloves dropped in the third — Brian Halonen and Simon Benoit went at it at 5:51, fighting majors both ways.

Next up for Boston: Friday, October 2, at the Winnipeg Jets. Clean up the turnovers and this is a different game.