UPDATE 11:40 AM EDT
Practice starts in 20 minutes. I will post updates in the message board thread and on Twitter (@billmeltzer). A full account will run in tomorrow morning's blog. As I write this, Nicklas Grossmann came out dressed for full contact, so it looks like he's a go for Game 1.
My article on the
Flyers' Black Aces is now online at the Flyers' official Web site.
*********
There is no such thing as an easy playoff matchup or certain victory in today's NHL. There are no modern versions of the Atlanta Flames or Colorado Rockies who, if they made it to the playoffs at all, had little to no chance of upsetting a top team. Nowadays, anyone can beat anyone else under the right set of circumstances.
Besides, the Flyers have no reason to fear any team. They have the depth to compete successfully with any playoff opponent. It is a resilient team with tremendous leadership. The rest is about system execution.
That said, there are some opponents you would as soon see someone else deal with in the playoffs. Last night, Joel Ward and ex-Flyer Mike Knuble combined to give the Washington Capitals a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 7 of their ECQF series with the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins.
I'm happy for Knuble. He's a player I admire. Knuble is one the classiest athletes I've ever been privileged to meet, and someone who has been through a brutal and humiliating season. He deserves better treatment than he's gotten from Dale Hunter.
I'm even happier for the Flyers. They've take care of their own business in eliminating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. Now Boston is out of the playoffs, and the Capitals' win means that Philly cannot play the Rangers in the ECSF even if the Blueshirts defeat the Ottawa Senators tonight in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.
Here are the remaining second-round possibilities:
Scenario 1: If the Rangers and Panthers win their games tonight, the ECSF will see the Flyers playing the Panthers (home ice for Florida) and the Rangers opposing the Capitals.
Scenario 2: If the Rangers and Devils win tonight, the Flyers will play New Jersey (home ice for Flyers) and the Rangers get the Capitals.
Scenario 3: If the Senators and Panthers win tonight, the Flyers will play the Capitals (home ice to Flyers) and the Panthers become the top remaining seed and play Ottawa.
Scenario 4: If the Senators and Devils win, the Flyers become the top remaining seed and play Ottawa while the Devils will host Washington.
Any one of these scenarios appears to be preferable for the Flyers to a second-round clash with Boston or New York. Scenario 2 would be the least preferable on paper and either 1 or 4 would be the seemingly optimal ones.
But, as the saying goes, the game is played on ice not on paper. Round 2 will start for the Flyers on Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday looking more likely. They'll know for sure by the time they wake up tomorrow morning.
********
After focusing mainly on conditioning in their practice session on Tuesday, the Flyers did a lot of 2-on-2 and 2-on-1 drills yesterday. The key developments:
* Nicklas Grossmann, who practiced with the Black Aces on Tuesday but did not appear with the main group, took the next step in his return from a concussion suffered in Game 4 of the Pittsburgh series. He took part in the full practice yesterday, wearing a no-contact jersey. Grossmann took a lot of reps in the 2-on-1 drills and looked good. Barring any setbacks, I think he'll be ready to go for Game 1 of next series.
Grossmann politely stonewalled any and all questions about how he's feeling and whether he'll be playing next game. He repeatedly stuck to a "taking it one day at a time" cliche to any and all queries.
* Kimmo Timonen took his second straight maintenance day. He did take a skate on his own before practice started. The veteran defenseman, who is dealing with back, hip and foot issues, admitted that he needs some recuperation time before next series but will be ready to go come Game 1.
* Danny Briere, who is believed to be dealing with the ongoing effects of a late-season back injury, also took his second straight maintenance day. Briere did not appear at all on the ice yesterday. The previous day, he did an off-ice workout.
* James van Riemsdyk has been taking extra work this week as he continues to try to get back to full speed after returning from early March foot surgery in Games 5 and 6 of the ECQF. On Tuesday, he did a double session with the Black Aces and the main group. Yesterday, he hit the ice early (along with Grossmann and Timonen) about 15 minutes before the start of the main practice at noon.
* Andrej Meszaros skated with the main group for the second straight day. Like Grossmann, he wore a non-contact jersey. Meszaros appears to be slightly ahead of schedule in his return from back surgery, still will not be ready to play until the very end of a long series in Round 2 or the start of Round 3.
********
Ilya Bryzgalov tossed off two funny lines in the locker room yesterday, all the while trying to say as little as possible in response to reporters' questions.
Asked how the guys could stay fresh this week, he deadpanned, "Eat more veggies."
Later, when a reporter told the goaltender he was doing a feature on Peter Laviolette and asked what it's like to play for the coach, Bryzgalov gave a de facto "no comment" reply when he said "I don't have flash card." (That is apparently a reference to the team giving the goaltender a set of cards with questions he can expect to be asked, and how to safely answer them).
********
I am working on an article for the Flyers official Web site on the Black Aces. The piece should run tomorrow or Saturday. I'll link to it in my blog when it goes live.
********
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Flyers Buzz. For more information click here.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»