BOSTON _ Bruce Garrioch told me to go to Piccolo Nido tonight in the North End. The owner, Pino, talked about how he blessed the Red Sox (ancient Italian tradition) and they won 2 World Series.

Larry Lucchino and Charlie Jacobs are close friends of his. Pino also blessed the Bruins and Peter Chiarelli. HE says they win this series 4-2 over the FLyers. He admits, however, that he keeps seeing Pittsburgh rise in the East.

I took the Flyers in 7 games. Pino said I'm nuts, then closed the restaurant and performed the malocchi on myself, Ray Parillo and Sarah Baicker to protect us. You have to be Italian to understand this stuff.

I know the Flyers have a depleted lineup but I like their fight, their determination to defy the odds. I don't like the 8 days off. I think it messes with the Flyers' mojo. Bruins coach Claude Julien said this week he thinks the Flyers will be rusty because of that layoff.

I'm more concerned with Brian Boucher. When a goalie gets into a groove, he wants to play and keep playing. Boosh told me that the other side of that is, do you want the stress of a 7-game series just to keep playing and stay sharp?

Boosh is convinced his mind frame is perfect for this series and the layoff won't bother him. We will know after one game whether the Flyers "have it" or whether they "lost it" during this long interlude.

It's going to be a low-scoring series. I feel the penalty kill will determine the winner. Boston was perfect in Round 1 - 19 for 19 on the PK. The Flyers are missing Ian Laperriere - their PK guru. This could be the difference in the series.

Anyway, Pino says he's seen the outcome and the Bruins win every time. He blessed them.

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