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Flyers Playoff Gameday: Game 5 vs. Bruins |
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(PREVIEW 7:00 AM)
The Flyers will attempt to send their Eastern Conference semifinal series back to Philadelphia tonight as they go on the road to take on the Boston Bruins in Game 5. After struggling on home ice for much of the season, including a 10-game winless streak, the Bruins are undefeated at TD Garden (5-0) during the playoffs.
Three of the four games so far have been decided by one goal and there's every reason to believe that tonight's game will be another tightly contested affair. Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher ( 3.39 GAA and .884 save percentage for the series) needs to play better than he has in the last two games. Boston's Tuukka Rask was excellent in Game 3 but subpar in Game 4 and he, too, will have to elevate his play.
The Flyers will also need to get their special teams back on track. They are 0-for-10 on the powerplay over the last three games and, although they've cut back on their own penalties, need to improve on the 75% success clip they've had on penalty kill in this series.
Another area will the Flyers will look for improvement: faceoffs. The Bruins, especially Patrice Bergeron, have dominated the faceoff circle in this series and it has cost the Flyers a couple of goals triggered initially by clean faceoff losses.
Injury-wise, both clubs are banged up, with the Flyers in worse shape. Simon Gagne, who scored the game-winner in OT on Friday, will remain in the lineup, as will Arron Asham. The Flyers refuse to tip their hand as to whether Dan Carcillo (knee) will be able to play tonight. Ryan Parent seems unlikely to play, with Oskars Bartulis taking his place on the third defense pairing. Jeff Carter was on crutches in the pressbox during Game 3, and would be unavailable for several more weeks. Ian Laperriere (brain contusion) remains out indefinitely.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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