PREVIEW (7:30 AM)

It has come to this on the final day of the 2009-10 regular season: If the Flyers win today in the back end of their home-and-home set with the New York Rangers, Philly will be the seventh playoff seed and play the New Jersey Devils or Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. If the Flyers lose, they are out of the playoffs and the Rangers are in.

To win today, the Flyers are going to need a much better first period than they played on Friday, along with improved discipline and an improved performance from Brian Boucher. As noted yesterday, it is critical for both clubs that they be playing from ahead after two periods because the Flyers and Rangers rank near the bottom of the NHL in third-period comeback success rates. The Flyers are 2-26-1 when trailing heading into the third period, while the Rangers are 1-25-2. Add the fact that the Rangers are a gaudy 32-1-4 when leading after two periods and it's even more imperative for Philly that they avoid having to chase the game.

*****

Before today's game, the Flyers will hand out their season awards. Here are my picks:

Bobby Clarke Trophy (team MVP): Chris Pronger
Barry Ashbee Trophy (top defenseman): Pronger
Pelle Lindbergh Award (most improved): Dan Carcillo
Yanick Dupre Memorial (good guy/ rapport with media): Kimmo Timonen
Gene Hart Memorial (fan club award -- best rapport with fans): Danny Briere

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