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Tuukka Rask, Bruins paralyze Philly, take 3-0 series lead

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Most of this year, hockey writers lingered on just how much better the Bruins were last year. Now, with one more win, Boston can pass the 2008-09 team in the area that matters the most: the playoffs. Boston Bruins 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1

Bruins lead series 3-0

To me, the biggest moment might have been Mark Recchi’s early third period powerplay goal. The puck took an unexpected bounce for Flyers netminder Brian Boucher, who was unable to recognize that Recchi had it. The goal made it 3-1 Boston and after that point, coach Claude Julien put his team into full-on trap mode. Philadelphia put up very little fight after that point.

The biggest story is Tuukka Rask, who stopped 34 of 35 shots to paralyze Philadelphia. Boucher didn’t have his greatest game of the playoffs (16 saves, 3 goals allowed) but wasn’t actually pulled despite what box scores might indicate (Johan Backlund came on simply to give Philly an artificial timeout).

Boston is only one win away from making the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1992. It’s hard to say how upset the Flyers should be; obviously it’s difficult to accept a similar outcome year after year but the team fought through a lot of injury headaches this season. Regardless, it looks like they’ll be able to nurse their wounds no later than next week.