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Flyers Playoff Gameday: Game 1 vs. Bruins |
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PREVIEW (9 AM)
After an interminable wait for the Flyers, the Eastern Conference Semifinals get underway today in Boston. The Bruins were the lowest-scoring team in the NHL during the regular season with just 196 goals scored but gave up the second-fewest goals (191 GA).
Heading into the series, there is a huge deal being made of Boston's 19-for-19 performance on the penalty kill and 6-for-22 the powerplay. The Flyers were 28-for-32 on the penalty kill against New Jersey and 8-for-29 on powerplay. During the regular season, Boston was 3rd in the NHL on the penalty kill and 23rd on the powerplay. The Flyers were 3rd in the NHL on the powerplay and 11th on the penalty kill.
My view: Toss all these numbers out, at least for Game 1. It's a brand new series and a different set of matchups, plus both teams have had layoffs. Every playoff series takes on a personality of its own, and success in one area during one series does not necessarily mean there will be any carryover to the next. We'll see what sort of special teams tone gets set and go from there.
Likewise, Boston only had one 20-goal scorer (Marco Sturm, 22) during the regular season but the club picked up the pace in their playoff series with Buffalo, led by veterans Mark Recchi and Miroslav Satan along with David Krejci. The Bruins also got four goals from the defense in the first round, including a pair from Zdeno Chara. The return of top playmaker Marc Savard can only bolster the Bruins' offense.
While playing the Devils in the first round is good preparation for playing Boston, the Flyers didn't have to contend with a defenseman the caliber of Zdeno Chara when they played New Jersey. Then again, the Sabres don't have anyone resembling Chris Pronger in their lineup. Whichever defenseman has the better series will be one of the keys to victory.
The Bruins are a bit banged up on the blueline while the Flyers are racked by key injuries up front. Boston figures to be without ex-Flyer Dennis Seidenberg and Mark Stuart while Philly is without Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne and Ian Laperriere. Boston defenseman Dennis Wideman had a tough regular season after a breakout campaign last year, but came on late in the stretch drive and the first round.
On paper, the Bruins have the edge in goaltending. Rookie Tuukka Rask has an extremely bright future ahead of him and is already an excellent NHL starting goalie. But Brian Boucher was at an even greater on-paper disadvantage against Martin Brodeur in the first round, and went on to outplay the greatest goaltender of the modern era.
Starting lineup (subject to change)
Carcillo - Richards - Giroux
Hartnell - Briere - Leino
JVR - Ross - Asham
Powe - Betts - Nodl
Carle - Pronger
Timonen - Coburn
Parent - Krajicek
Boucher
[Backlund]
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