PHILADELPHIA _ The fans at the Wells Fargo Center, it's fair to assume, were more concerned about the Flyers extending their long winning streak Tuesday night than catching the coronavirus.
Their concerns were warranted.
In a game that could be a preview of the Eastern Conference finals, Tuukka Rask made 36 saves and notched his fifth shutout of the season and 50th of his career, keying Boston's 2-0 victory and ending the Flyers' nine-game winning streak.
The Flyers could have moved into first place in the Metropolitan Division for just the third time since the division was formed in 2013. They remained one point behind first-place Washington with 13 games remaining.
Because of coronavirus concerns, the city's health department has recommended people avoid gatherings of more than 5,000 people, so it is unknown if the Flyers will play any future games without fans. They next play at the Wells Fargo Center, which was packed and lively Tuesday, on Saturday afternoon against Minnesota.
The Flyers outshot the Bruins, 36-29.
Boston increased the lead to 2-0 when Patrice Bergeron scored on a blast from just inside the blue line with 5 minutes, 20 seconds left. Bergeron was guarded by defenseman Travis Sanheim, who had the puck deflect off his stick and sail past an unsuspecting Carter Hart.
With 1:21 left in the second period, the NHL-best Bruins took a 1-0 lead on defenseman Matt Grzelcyk's power-play goal, a drive from the center of the point that got past Hart (now 20-3-2 at home this season), who appeared screened.
Shortly before the goal, Scott Laughton and Kevin Hayes had a two-on-one shorthanded break. Laughton appeared to have a clear shooting lane, but made an ill-advised pass that was broken up by Charlie Coyle.
Rask, celebrating his 33rd birthday, was the reason the teams left the ice scoreless after the first period.
The Boston goalie stopped all 12 shots in the first, including a two-on-one in which he made a glove save to rob Travis Konecny, who took a perfect feed from Jake Voracek.
While shorthanded, the Flyers had another two-on-one early in the second period, but Hayes was denied by Rask.
With 11:21 left in the second, Rask stopped Justin Braun on a point-blank shot, and less than a minute later, he turned aside Claude Giroux on a three-on-two rush.
Midway through the second, the Flyers had a 20-9 shots domination, but Rask had all the answers.
The Bruins' David Pastrnak, who entered the night tied for the NHL lead with 48 goals, had two quality chances from the left circle in the second period, but was stopped by Hart.
The game marked the return of Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who replaced the injured Phil Myers and played his first NHL game since Feb. 6. He had a strong game, drawing a penalty, playing solid defense, and looking sharp on the second power-play unit.
The Flyers won a pair of shootouts (3-2 and 6-5) against the Bruins earlier in the season. They had four straight wins over Boston, their longest streak against the Bruins in franchise history.
Boston, which leads the NHL with 100 points, ended that streak, along with the Flyers' overall nine-game run.
