Couturier lifts Flyers past Bruins
Scores tiebreaking goal in third, Elliott makes 30 saves
Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist, and Shayne Gostisbehere scored for Philadelphia (19-15-6). Brian Elliott made 30 saves.
The win pulled the Flyers within four points of the fourth-place Bruins in the eight-team MassMutual East Division. The top four teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"I think it's safe to say that I wouldn't have liked our chances of battling back [for a playoff spot] if we would have lost tonight," Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. "We needed to win, especially in regulation, especially against the team that we're chasing."
Patrice Bergeron and Jake DeBrusk scored for Boston (21-11-6), which was 3-0-1 in its past four games. Jeremy Swayman made 20 saves.
"We had some really good looks, just didn't go in for us," Bruins forward Craig Smith said. "I thought our goalie played well. ... It's the way it is. Got another one tomorrow (against the Washington Capitals). We'll turn around and be ready to go."
Couturier gave the Flyers a 3-2 lead at 6:59 of the third period with a goal from the slot. He reached to play a pass from Joel Farabee and slid the puck under Swayman's glove.
Philadelphia killed two Boston power plays in the third to preserve the lead; the Bruins were 10-for-20 in their first seven games against the Flyers.
"Just our attention to detail, our ability to get in lanes, have good sticks and force them into plays that they don't really want to make," Elliott said. "I thought we were really strong in that area tonight. It's something we've been stressing for a while now, and I think we've been getting better and better, and tonight was another good one."
Bergeron gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 5:38 of the first period on a play that started when Brad Marchand stole the puck from Gostisbehere below the goal line in the Flyers zone.
Konecny tied it 1-1 at 11:51 when he scored on the rebound of a shot by Robert Hagg.
Gostisbehere redirected Konecny's shot for a power-play goal to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead at 17:46.
Konecny has scored seven points (two goals, five assists) during a season-high five-game point streak. He attributed some of his success to playing on a line with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek.
"You play with a player like 'G,' he sees the ice so well, he works really hard, you know you're going to get your chances as long as you're trying to get to the right areas," Konecny said. "It's the same with Jake, they're good puck-moving guys, so I just get to the right areas and try to get them the puck back. As long as we're playing the right way out there, I'm sure those guys are going to get their looks, so I just try to get to the right areas."
The Bruins tied it 2-2 at 11:45 of the second period on DeBrusk's goal from the slot.
Philadelphia appeared to take a two-goal lead at 14:21 of the third period when Gostisbehere's shot got past Swayman, but the goal was overturned after a coach's challenge for goaltender interference on Voracek.
The Flyers finished the season series 2-4-2 against the Bruins.
"I liked our effort," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "... They have a lot to play for, every team does this time of year that's still in the mix, so that certainly had something to do with it. We had a few breakdowns, they converted on them."
NOTES:Bergeron has scored nine points (six goals, three assists) during a seven-game point streak. He scored 14 points (eight goals, six assists) against the Flyers this season. ... Marchand had an assist on Bergeron's goal to give him 385 in the NHL, tied with Ken Hodge for 10th in Bruins history; Ray Bourque is first with 1,111. ... Gostisbehere's power-play goal was his 26th, tied with Tom Bladon for third-most by a Flyers defenseman. Mark Howe and Eric Desjardins are tied for first with 39. ... Philadelphia forward James van Riemsdyk had two assists, his first points in nine games. … Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk did not play after the first period because of an upper-body injury. Cassidy said he is day to day and would be evaluated Sunday.
