UPDATE 5 PM EDT
Brian Boucher will be in goal tonight for the Flyers.
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MINI-PREVIEW 11:00 AM EDT
After taking care of business on Long Island last night, the Flyers (45-19-10) return to Philadelphia today to take on the Northeast Division leading Boston Bruins (41-23-10) this evening. This is the fourth and final regular season meeting between the clubs this year. The Bruins have won 2 of 3 games, including a 3-0 shutout by Tim Thomas in Philadelphia on Dec. 1 and a wild 7-5 win in Boston on Jan. 13 that saw the Flyers blow four separate leads and the Bruins score five goals in the third period.
Last night, the Flyers rode a James van Riemsdyk hat trick, a strong goaltending performance by Sergei Bobrovsky and an early 3-1 lead (which grew to 4-1 in the third period) to a relatively comfortable win over the Islanders. Peter Laviolette was able to spread around the ice time to hopefully keep his personnel a little fresher for tonight's game. I would assume Peter Laviolette will keep rolling with Bobrovsky in net, despite the back-to-back games.
Meanwhile, Tuukka Rask and the Bruins came up a little short against red-hot Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers, losing a 1-0 decision to the only team in the NHL that is undefeated when leading after two periods (27-0-0). Prior to the shutout yesterday, Milan Lucic had registered five points (1 G, 4 A) in his previous three games. Boston is just 3-4-3 over its last 10 games. Thomas has gotten all three starts against the Flyers this season.
On the injury front, the Flyers are still without Chris Pronger (hand surgery, has returned to practice) and Jody Shelley (fractured orbital bone). The Bruins remain without Marc Savard (concussion) and Shane Hnidy (shoulder).
PROJECTED LINEUP (subject to change)
FLYERS
JVR - Richards - Versteeg
Hartnell - Briere - Leino
Nodl - Giroux - Carter
Carcillo - Betts - Powe
Coburn - Timonen
Carle - Meszaros
O'Donnell - Boynton
Bobrovsky
[Boucher]
BRUINS
Lucic - Krejci - Horton
Ryder - Bergeron - Recchi
Peverley - Kelly - Seguin
Marchand - Campbell - Thornton
Chara - Boychuk
Kaberle - Seidenberg
Ference - McQuaid
Thomas
[Rask]
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Tim Thomas has been the frontrunner all season to win his second Vezina Trophy in three seasons. I still think he'll win. However, if you asked me to pick the best goalie in the NHL this season, it's Henrik Lundqvist.
Today's
Daily Drop at Versus.com makes the case for the Rangers' goaltenders.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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