Flyers grab much-needed win, as Sam Ersson shuts out the Bruins, 2-0

BOSTON — Don’t ever mess with a mama bear — or 15 of them.

Needing a jumpstart with just two wins over the first nine games, the Philadelphia Flyers were hooked up to a battery packed with mom energy on Tuesday night with the mom’s trip in full swing.

As forward Scott Laughton said before the game, “Yeah, we’ve got to put on a show for them tonight.”

Mission accomplished with a 2-0 win against the offensively gifted Boston Bruins.

It wasn’t always pretty, as they posted just 19 shots on goal and were penned in their own end at times. But after a morning skate where they worked on quick transitions, puck support, breakouts and just getting touches, it carried over to the game on the offensive side of the ice.

Tyson Foerster gave the Orange and Black its fourth 1-0 lead of the season at 5:32 of the second period. Emil Andrae sent a stretch pass from the Flyers’ end up to the forwards stacking the line. Foerster was on the receiving end and tipped it to Morgan Frost who tapped it back to him for a laser that just missed. But Andrae got to the left boards and fed Foerster in the high slot for a turn and shoot through the wickets.

Joel Farabee sealed the deal with an empty-netter — and a punch into the glass — in the closing seconds after Noah Cates negated an icing.

On the other end, the Flyers shut down talented Bruins forwards David Pastrňák, Brad Marchand, and Elias Lindholm despite giving them plenty of chances with four power plays — including an 84-second two-man advantage in the first period.

Sam Ersson, who has been a bright spot this season despite the poor numbers, was stellar in net. The Bruins pressed and crashed the net throughout the night but he never wavered despite frequent madness in the crease. Among his 24 saves was a sliding post-to-post stop on an open Elias Lindholm in the first period.

Ersson earned the game’s first star and his sixth career shutout, while his buddies found their bread and butter, blocking 29 shots.

Breakaways

Forward Bobby Brink played in place of Nick Deslauriers. Defenseman Egor Zamula remained a healthy scratch. ... Matvei Michkov tried “The Michigan” lacrosse-style shot and just missed in the third period.

Up next

The Flyers face the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night (7 p.m. ET, NBCSP).