And the Flyers-Bruins winner is...
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
And the Flyers-Bruins winner is...
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers and Boston Bruins will meet in the intriguing Eastern Conference semifinals, which start Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers, of course, made history last year against the Bruins, becoming the first team to overcome a three-games-to-none series deficit _ and a 3-0 deficit in Game 7 _ to advance to the conference finals.
Here are two views on the series:
WHY THE FLYERS WILL WIN….
1. As Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell pointed out, they are in the Bruins’ heads after last year’s stunning developments.
2. They are a much better defensive team than last year, thanks to the additions of Andrej Meszaros and Sean O’Donnell.
3. Housemates Briere and Claude Giroux are among the league’s most dangerous playoff scorers, and Brian Boucher has emerged as one of the top playoff goalies (2.10 GAA, .934 save percentage).
4. Winger James van Riemsdyk is having a coming-out-party and is a major force.
5. Chris Pronger, back from hand surgery, is well-rested and rounding into dominating form.
WHY THE BRUINS WILL WIN…..
1. They have extra motivation from last year’s humiliation.
2. Tim Thomas, the Vezina front-runner, can be dominating.
3. David Krejci is healthy. Last year, the talented center was injured in Game 3. Without him, the Bruins never won another game.
4. They are the only NHL team that can match the Flyers in size, depth, talent and physicality on the blue line.
5. They have three balanced lines and will benefit from the Flyers missing Jeff Carter (knee injury) for the first few games. Oh, and their power play (0 for 21 vs. Montreal) has to rebound.
AND THE WINNER IS…..
This time, it’s the Bruins _ and Thomas _ who provide the Game 7 theatrics. Boston in seven.
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Give me your pick and a quick reason.
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For constant Flyers updates, follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BroadStBull.
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Wrong. Flyers in 6.— absinthetic8- Wrong. Flyers in 6.— absinthetic8
- I expect a close series as the teams match up well.
It will be nice to be home for game 7. Flyers in 7.— JohnFC - Why the Flyers will win. . . you underestimate the reunion of the fourth line. With Betts and Shelley (with Car Bomb, Powe or whoever they put with them) reunited any line they face have to maneuver through tough vets who know how to play shut down playoff hockey.
Really, when this team was paired up in optimal units (d and forwards) they were a machine. They are just about back to that point. When the forwards circle the neutral zone like sharks and the d stands up at their blue line, no one in the league can back them down or outscore them. Flyers in 6.— Kev H - 1. dont refer to JVR as having a "coming-out party". that just sounds bad no matter which way you interpret it.
2. Did you have to pick Boston? is your integrity as a journalist riding on your prediction? What did I miss here? You do make your entire living following around the Flyers and writing article for shmucks like me.
3. the rest of the article was good.— Inchon - completely agree - doesn't mean you have to pick the Sixers beating Miami, or even a Flyers Sweep - but come on in a closely matched series focus on why the flyers will win and that's that. That said - I do like philly and not in 7 either. If Boosh can be stable - flyers in 5. — gob1234
If we had a hot goalie this would be a short series. But we're still better than Boston. Flyers in 6.— wylies99- If the Flyer get decent goaltending they win in no more than 6. They are much deeper and have a much better coach. Pronger must stay healthy to combat the B's superior size however.— jking91
- If Boucher is solid and Pronger can play 18 minutes a game, the Flyers will win, though it won't be easy. Flyers in 6.— e.p.r.
- The arguments you give as to why the Bruins will win seem very weak compared to the reasons the Flyers will win. The Bruins PP going 0-21 is not a good reason they will win, if anything it is something for the Flyers PK unit to take advantage of. Through your reasoning, the Flyers seem like the more dominating force. Also, there is no doubt that Carter will be a huge boost once he returns, but I wouldn't say the flyers are hurting that much without him, We solved Miller, we'll solve Thomas...... Flyers in 6— shmu u 92
- Flyers in 6, very possibly 5. Boston defense matches the Flyers? Lol. Chara, yes, a beast. Seindenberg? A journeyman Flyer reject. Kaberle? He's been a bust in Boston, and while he has offensive skills, he's soft. The rest: very average. Let's see, a 43-year-old on their second line? That's not going to work out too well. Thomas is very tough, and will make things difficult.— eagle1971
- I'm with Inchon, those 3 points he made where excellent...The Flyers can have this series in 5 games, if they come out with the actual intent to win early. Now with this being the Flyers of whom we speak, well they may just let the Bean Town Boys hang around for 7..(lol,lmao)..and then send them home again....Go Flyers and Go Fans....................Ynotflyers— ynotflyers
- GET YOUR BROOMS . FLYERS IN 4.— eglftbl1
- Inchon, remember this about journalistic integrity: Sam was actually comparing Leighton to Hasek last year right up until the Finals; then he changed his tune.— B Dawg 82
- Sam, bad choice, Flyers are confident, have found their game, and now will start to roll. Flyers in 6.— Fabulous
- I live in RI and one of the things that keeps coming up on the sports talk radio here is how crappy the Bruins power play has been the entire year. they went out and got Kaberle to help, but it still stinks. Not sure why it "has to rebound." The more likely scenario is that it will continue to stink.— jkard99
- Key to the Flyers winning is stopping Patrice Bergeron from silently destroying us. Thomas does pretty well with traffic in front of the net and sprawls all over the place to make saves, so the boys gotta pick their spots when they shoot. Use Richie as a talented checking center, let Giroux and Briere do their thing, and the Flyers will move one step closer to a party on Broad Street!!— the Guffaw
- Flyboys hot and rolling in 5 games!— The Philly Shadow
- How exactly do the Bruins match up with us in depth and talent?? Thats just laughable. The only area of the game they are better in is goaltending. Their offense and defenseive game doesn't hold and candle to ours. We have a much deeper offense and our defense is possibly one of, if not the deepest in the league. If our boys can show up like they did in the last couple games against the Sabers and Boosh can play solid, we will win in 5 or 6 games.— Flyers2822
- I pick the Flyers in 7. i see Briere continuing to be the big time player he is. I also think versteeg and richards are going to have a big time series. If boosh can just be stable, they may end it early. Hope so— debbyt
- Flyers are going down and hard. They have 3 lousy goalies and their defense has too many lapses. Sorry the this years Flyers will add on to the years without a cup.— slade1955
- who as a phila sports writer goes against the home team? If you like the Bruins so much go write in Boston. WTH !!!!!— knarfage
- If the Flyers play like they want to win it, it should be over in 5 or 6. If they play every other game like they did today (and in the Sabres series) then it will be seven. The hockey gods have to start giving us these lucky goals like we're giving. We haven't got an easy goal, bounce, fluke, mistake yet!— Pocono Phlyer
- Game 1 is over. You're never as good as your best game (Game 7 against the Sabers) and you're never as bad as your worst game (today). Speaking of bad, I can't bear to listen to Pierre McGurie on NBC who is master of the obvious and then repeats what is obivous. Can't wait for the Versus coverage when Panger is between the benches instead of the tool Pierre. Overall bad day, but it's still Flyers in 7........but only if the goalie carousel stops. Can't spot Boston 3 goals and still expect to win.— Voytas
- Flip a coin. Keep track. When you call it right, stand up and cheer. When you call it wrong, weep.— retzlaff
