PHILADELPHIA — Boston had two third-period leads against Philadelphia disintegrate into losses already this season.

The Bruins wasted another lead against the Flyers on Monday night. Brett Connolly kept them from blowing the game.

The Flyers’ Michal Neuvirth can’t stop a shot by the Bruins’ Brett Connolly with 1:54 left in the third period of Monday night’s game in Philadelphia. Boston won, 3-2, on Connolly’s goal. The Associated Press

Bruins, from left, Patrice Bergeron, Brett Connolly and Brad Marchand celebrate Connolly’s game-winning goal. The Associated Press

Connolly redirected Zdeno Chara’s shot from the point with 1:54 left, lifting Boston to a 3-2 win over Philadelphia.

Connolly tipped the wobbly shot and one-hopped the puck past Michel Neuvirth for his seventh goal of the season.

“I’ve been getting some good chances and to see that one go in such a big game is great right before the All-Star break,” he said.

Boston has won five of six games as it tries to move up the Eastern Conference standings.

Brad Marchand scored a goal for the fifth straight game and Patrice Bergeron also scored for the Bruins.

Boston’s Tuukka Rask stopped 34 shots in his return from a late scratch Saturday night with an undisclosed injury.

The Flyers had staged third-period rallies in a pair of wins over the Bruins in the first two meetings this season. Wayne Simmonds nearly made it a third time with two straight goals, including one in the third that made it 2-all.

The Flyers have lost three straight games after a solid 5-0-1 run put them in the hunt for a playoff spot. But they’re closer now to the bottom of the standings than they are a playoff spot in a bunched-up conference.

Marchand has been fantastic since he returned from a three-game suspension for clipping Ottawa defenseman Mark Borowiecki. Marchand’s five goals over five games bumped his season total to 20 and he also has an assist over the last six games.

Bergeron’s 19th goal of the season came on the power play. Marchand added another power-play goal on a one-timer from the circle with 2:33 left in the first period.

Simmonds got the Flyers rolling early in the second when he scored his 13th goal at 3:45. His goal came on one of four power-play attempts for the Flyers in the first 11 minutes of the period.

Simmonds directed in a rebound with 7:52 left in the third. Simmonds has four goals in three games this season against Boston.

Boston Coach Claude Julien went for the challenge because it appeared Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto had entered the offensive zone before the puck – and replay seemed to prove him correct.

The goal stood after a replay review for Boston’s offside challenge.

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