The Philadelphia Flyers arrived at the Garden on Tuesday having allowed 4.44 goals per game in their first nine games and sitting last in the Metropolitan Division with a 2-6-1 record. Easy picks for the Bruins?

Yeah, that’s true. In 2024-25, scoring comes easily for the Bs.

The B’s went 0 for 4 on the power play, including a long 5-on-3, and fought with the puck all night en route to their second shutout of the young season, this one a 2-game loss. -0 against the visitors from Philadelphia.

Tyson Foerster scored in the second period and, thanks to the Flyers’ 28 blocked shots, it held until Joel Farabee scored into an empty net.

Although they scored a goal early in the third period, the B’s managed only three shots on goal in the third period and, on the power play, they managed only two shots on Sam Ersson, who made 24 saves without conceding a goal.

Currently, the B’s do not instinctively play in the offensive zone.

“If you move the puck fast enough and you think you’re going to shoot first, they’re not going to be in shooting lanes. They’re down one player, especially at 5-on-3 where they’re down two players,” coach Jim Montgomery said, lamenting the power play’s woes. “We’re not making plays, we’re not doing enough to generate very dangerous scoring chances. Whether it was a desire to go in these areas or a poor game plan, we are all guilty of not getting a victory tonight.

This defeat spoiled a good performance from Joonas Korpisalo (17 saves).

“He gave us an opportunity to win,” Montgomery said. “He didn’t face a lot of shots, but there were some high quality shots. I could think of at least three great saves that gave us the chance before the score became 1-0.

As questions multiply about this team and its ability to score regularly, one wonders if there is a cure. Veteran Tyler Johnson is still on the team and expected to sign at some point, but it doesn’t appear to be a one-man solution.

Elias Lindholm, associated with one of the best scorers in the world, David Pastrnak, was useless in seven games and did not demonstrate that he had much chemistry with the superstar. Considering management invested seven years and $54.25 million to be Pastrnak’s career-long diver, that’s a problem.

Meanwhile, Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic and Pavel Zacha all have one goal. All these players will have to come forward soon, otherwise this season will escape them.

“On every team, the star players must carry the weight, the load offensively. These are the players that are missing on the power play and right now the offense is not materializing for us,” Montgomery said.

Early in the game, it looked like the B’s might have a chance to start stringing together some wins after an emotional overtime win over Toronto on Saturday. No.

“Sometimes we get a little too confident. You have to respect every team, every night,” Marchand said. “We had some opportunities this evening, especially in the first two periods. After the second, it could easily have been a draw. But we let that get away from us a little and we have to continue to build on the good things. We were able to play hard at the net in the third and they did a really good job of collapsing. They protected their front of the net very well, but we had to be better in that area.

The first period was scoreless, thanks to several excellent saves from both goalkeepers. Young defenseman Mason Lohrei experienced brutal puck malfunctions early on, ultimately leading to him being benched for a few shifts later in the first.

But when he and partner Charlie McAvoy couldn’t clear the puck early on, Korpisalo saved them. On a bad Bruin shift, Bobby Brink had half the net to shoot at, but Korpisalo, playing his first game since Oct. 16, made a terrific foot save.

The B’s had a great chance to take the lead when Marchand was cross-checked, then Pastrnak was hooked 23 seconds later, giving the B’s a 5-on-3 in 1:37. But the B’s struggled as the Flyers somehow managed to take away their shooting lanes for a stretched two-man advantage. They also needed Korpisalo to make a big stop on the Flyers’ shorthanded bid after the first penalty ended, moving to his left to thwart Garnet Hathaway on a 2-on-1.

The B’s, who held an 11-7 advantage in shots, had their best chance when Andrew Peeke took the puck deep and fed Elias Lindholm for what looked like a tap-in, but Ersson was able to one way or another to thwart the centeman. Peeke also hit a post later in the period.

The Flyers got all the offense they needed at 5:32 of the second. The B’s lost puck battles on both blue lines and eventually, Emil Andrae fed Tyson Foerster in the high slot and he managed to beat Korpisalo under the pads with a hard wrist shot for the 1-0 lead. Flyers.

The B’s then quickly gave the Flyers a numerical advantage, but they managed to kill it.

Morgan Geekie, who also struggled offensively (only one assist), gave the B’s another chance on the power play when he buried a Flyer in the offensive zone and Morgan Frost responded with a high stick. But the B’s, playing hesitantly on the perimeter, didn’t bring the puck to the net until Justin Brazeau’s point was gobbled up by Ersson at the end of the PP.

The Flyers had 17 blocked shots in the first 20 minutes, along with other blocked passes that frustrated the Bruins. The B’s had a 10-6 advantage in shots in the second period, but they started the third period with a goal.

The difficulties getting pucks to the net only got worse in the third and the B’s, unable to fight against the Flyers, got the result they deserved. Now, with their record at 4-5-1, it’s back to the drawing board once again. After 10 games, it’s already an all-too-familiar position for them.

Originally published: October 29, 2024 at 9:44 p.m. EDT