ST. LOUIS – Saturday was just the Philadelphia Flyers’ lucky day. First, the Boston Bruins were forced to play backup goaltender Jonas Gustavsson because Tuukka Rask was ill. After the Ottawa Senators crushed the Bruins, 6-1, that left the Flyers needing just two points to clinch the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Their opponent, the Pittsburgh Penguins, decided to rest center Sidney Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang. And if that wasn’t enough help, Penguins goaltender Matt Murray got injured in the first period, forcing Jeff Zatkoff into action for the first time since Feb. 20.