Flyers  3    Bruins  1

Recap: Boston vs. Philadelphia

Sports Network | December 15, 2009

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Kimmo Timonen scored a pair of goals in the third period, as the Philadelphia Flyers rallied to beat the Boston Bruins, 3-1, in a preview of this season's Winter Classic.

Timonen also added an assist for the Flyers, who had lost seven of eight coming in. James van Riemsdyk had the other goal for Philadelphia, which got 26 saves from Brian Boucher.

"Definitely feels good to get this win. Everyone is pretty fired up about it. It took all 20 guys out there to really pull our weight," van Riemsdyk said.

Vladimir Sobotka scored the lone goal for the Bruins, who have lost two in a row and three of five overall. Tim Thomas turned aside 35-of-37 shots in defeat.

"They played like a desperate hockey team and we didn't and that was the difference in the game," Boston forward Mark Recchi said.

These two rivals will meet in just a few weeks in the NHL's annual outdoor game, which is scheduled to take place January 1 at Boston's Fenway Park. A few of the players visited Fenway Park on Sunday to get a feel for things.

Down 1-0, van Riemsdyk got Philadelphia's offense going with a goal at the 2:48 mark of the third. Arron Asham controlled the puck behind the net and slid a pass in front to van Riemsdyk, whose tip-in beat Thomas.

Timonen put the Flyers ahead by one when he lit the lamp at the 10:28 mark. His shot from the blue line deflected off traffic in front of the net and sailed past Thomas.

A Scott Hartnell high sticking call put Boston on the power play with 1:03 to play. But it was Timonen who scored the short-handed empty-net goal to seal the victory.

Thomas made 14 saves in a scoreless first period, while Boucher stopped seven shots.

Sobotka's goal with 1:28 left in the second broke the scoreless tie. Shawn Thornton gathered a loose disc and made his way around Philadelphia's net. Thornton slid the puck in front of the net and Sobotka was there for the tip- in score.

The Flyers went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Boston went 0-for-3 with the man advantage...Philadelphia leads the season series with the Bruins, 2-0.