I was at the local coffee shop this morning , grabbing my gallon drum of black juice from Hell and a crueller, when the kid behind the counter asked me if I throught the Sabres will have a snow ball's chance in Hell of beating the Flyers in Game One, which begin tonight in Philly.
Without hesitation, I told my barista that not only will Buffalo win Game 1, they will also win this series in six games.
The kid looked at me like my hair was on fire. It happens all the time. I'm used to that reaction by now.
He expressed his concerns about Buffalo's D corps and their ability to neutralize the Flyers Top 6 forwards. I agreed. When Richards, Carter, Giroux, Briere, Hartnell, Leino, and Van Riemsdyk. I fully and completely respect the point that Philly have seven different twenty gola scorers in their lineup. Thats cvommendable, and the Buffalo D will have its hands full trying to reduce the time and space of Philly's snipers. However, not much respct has been shown to the Buffalo blueline heading into this series. Tyler Myers has been a tower of power for his team, and its no small coincidence that his team's fortunes turned arournd dramatically once here-asserted himself and became his team's best Dman in December. Forget about his shakiy October and November. Myers is a difference maker, and rest assured that Lindy Ruff will have him on the ice against Philly's top line. Forget about Myers being the next pronger. Myers is further ahead in development as a sophomore than Pronger was at the same stage of his NHL career.Good news. Reggie Sekera returned to practice yesterday and will play tonight. When Sekera gets his legs moving, he can make all Hell break loose,minding his end of the rink and creating offense in the o-zone. Weber, Montador, Butler, Gragnani, and Morrisonn can play at a high level and defend the fort in times of durress. A Healthy Sekera will give Ruff and his coaches a challenge: do they play the Morrison over Gragnani in Game 1? I think Ruff will tap Gragnani over Morrison merely for his PP skills and his first-pass breakout ability.
Will the Buffalo D blank the Philly Top 6? No, they will not. However, they will make it tough for the Philly skilled guys to get to the dirty areas around Miller's cage, to deny chances. Philly love to get the puck to the net and arricve their in ill humor. The Buffalo D have to be mindful of keeping their cool in post-whistle scrums, as you know full well that Laviolette will be instructing his forwards to introduce themselves to Ryan Miller while he is in his crease. Buffalo cannot lose their cool and retaliate against the Philly tactics.
On the other side of the puck, the Philly D will be stout and responsible and the Buffalo Top 6 will have to be moving their feet at all times. I see Game 1 as a possession battle. Buffalo have been nat their best in then past three months when then get pucks deep, make opposing D turn their face to the glass and put bodies on bodies down low to create recoveries which lead to zone time, which in turn has led to scoring chances. Buffalo cannot get in the hebit of going "one and done" in the Philly end. They must start with the puck, which puts the onus on centres Connolly, Boyes, Gaustad, to win draws early and often. Vanek and Stafford are thirty goal scorers, who can bury their chances. Pominville, Connolly, Gerbe, Boyes, Ennis, give Buffalo playmaking and finishing depth through all four lines.
The Sabres must remain disciplined and must keep the third man high to defend against the patented Philly oddman rush against. The Flyers thrive on getting the forwards behind the opponent's D. The Buffalo forwards have to respect the Flyers playmakers and deny them the odd man rush.
The 900 pound gorilla in the Flyers room is its goaltending. Their starting goaltending has run the gamut from great to awful this season, and its presently the biggest area of concern for Peter Laviolette.
In the nets, I'll take Ryan Miller over Sergei Bobrovsky any day of the week.
Miller is Playoff tested and he knows how the intensity level and tempo that Playoff hockey is played at. He's been here before. Bobrovsky hasn't. Thats a BIG difference. The Flyers struggled to win with consistency in their last 25 games, largely due to the facy trhat their goaltending was not on par with what it had been in the early stages of the NHL season. Bobrovsky reminded me of a rookie MLB pitcher with an impressive fastball as his out-pitch, in the early segment of the season in October-December. His first time around the NHL, Bobrovsky got the better of oppoenents, however, when the calendar had flipped to 2011, scoutingreports around the NHL revealed some of the deficiencies in Bob's game. Isn't that the way it isually works with young players? Bob's body of work is impressive, however, Boucher was called in from the Philly bullpen on many a night to spell the youngster. That's the way the NHl works. Boucher was able to hold the fort for a while, until he himself became prone to mistakes. Just last week, the Flyers recalled Michael Leighton on waivers from the minors. Doesn't send a positive message, does it?
I like Miller's body of work over Bobrovsky's.
I love the way that Buffalo had to play for the past 100 days of the NHL season. They've been playing Playoff hockey since Christmas time. They didn't have a choice. They had to extricate from the wreckage of their early season collision with the abyss.
I respect the Flyers offense and D. I'm not sold on their goaltending.
Sabres in 6.
Thats my story and I'm stickin to it.
Follow me on Twitter @HockeybuzzGarth
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