Turnpike Series: Flyers-Devils
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Turnpike Series: Flyers-Devils
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Turnpike Series has been set.
The fifth-seeded Flyers finally learned their second-round opponent early Friday morning. It’s sixth-seeded New Jersey, which scored a 3-2 double-overtime win at third-seeded Florida in Game 7.
The Flyers will have home-ice advantage, and they will host Game 1 on Sunday at 3 p.m.
The Flyers went 3-3 against the Devils in the regular season, with Ilya Bryzgalov winning all three of his starts and Sergei Bobrovksy losing his three.
Bryzgalov’s numbers were off the charts: a 0.29 GAA and .987 save percentage.
The teams' big guns, Claude Giroux and the Devils’ Ilya Kovalchuk, were outstanding in the series. Giroux had four goals and three assists in the six games, and Kovalchuk had two goals and six assists.
The Devils beat the Flyers in the conference finals in 1995 and 2000, winning the Stanley Cup both years. The Flyers defeated the Devils in the first round in 2004 and 2010.
Here is a look at this season's six matchups:
- Oct. 8 in Newark - Flyers 3, Devils 0. Bryzgalov ended the Flyers’ 85-game, regular-season shutout drought, and rookie Matt Read scored his first goal.
- Nov. 3 at the WFC - Devils 4, Flyers 3 (shootout). Max Talbot scored on a penalty shot, but it wasn’t enough as Bobrovsky and the Flyers fell in a shootout. Kovalchuk had three points and won a fight with the Flyers’ Brayden Schenn.
- Jan. 21 in Newark - Flyers 4, Devils 1. Bryzgalov was forced to make just 19 saves and Wayne Simmonds collected three points in the win. On the power play, the Flyers were 2 for 5, and the Devils were 0 for 6. All the news wasn’t good: Danny Briere suffered a concussion.
- Feb. 4 at the WFC - Devils 6, Flyers 4. Bobrovsky was shelled (six goals on 23 shots) and relieved by Bryzgalov. The Devils built a 6-0 lead and held off a third-period rally.
- March 11 in Newark - Devils 4, Flyers 1. Bobrovsky was again the loser as New Jersey went 2 for 5 on the PP. Kovalchuk had a goal and two assists.
- March 13 at the WFC - Flyers 3, Devils 0. Bryzgalov, who was in the midst of the second-longest shutout streak in the NHL since 1967-68, notched his second 3-0 win over the Devils this season. Defenseman Braydon Coburn had two assists, seven hits and three blocked shots.
The playoff schedule:
Game 1: Sun. at Phila, 3 p.m.
Game 2: Tue. May 1. at Phila, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Thurs. May 3, at NJ, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Sun. May 6, at NJ, 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: Tue. May 8, at Phila, TBA.
*Game 6: Thu. May 10, at NJ, TBA.
*Game 7: Sat. May 12, at Phila., TBA.
(* if necessary)
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
I wouldn't count on NY making it out of their series. Has anyone seen Holtby? He's been playing like Broduer 20 years ago. Caps in 6...— 7xChamp
I wonder after doing such a great job against Malkin who Sean Couturier goes against this time around. I have shoes older than that kid. What a great performance. Had Evgeni shakin his head.— DUDESKINS- I wonder after doing such a great job against Malkin who Sean Couturier goes against this time around. I have shoes older than that kid. What a great performance. Had Evgeni shakin his head.— DUDESKINS
- Hate This Team Too. Scott Stevens and That Gang. And the rest Of Them On The List With Rangers, Penguins, Bruins, Redwings. Well If You're Not FLYERS You Know We Have No Love For You. Flyers In 5. LET'S GO FLYERS!!!!!!!!!!!— Darryl Cofield
- The Flyers should win the series, but it may take the full 7 games to get it done. Brodeur is playing very well and is approaching the end of his truly great career - you know he wants it to end with a Cup. The week-long rest between Rounds 1 and 2 will be an advantage for the Flyers as they come down from the emotional high of putting Cindy to rest and as they rest & recover from injuries. Looking forward to seeing Mezaros and Grossmann back.— OrangeFury
- Four Lines Healthy Coming At Them Devils. No Way They Win. FLYBOYS Just To Deep This year. Face it Trolls. This TEAM Is Ready to Bring it Home. LET'S GO FLYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— Darryl Cofield
- here's the main thing i noticed - the devils have only beaten the flyers this season when bob is watching the net. undefeated when bryz played. knock knock— Zero
- Yeah, I have to agree with the gentleman above. We can roll four lines. We can scrap if we have too, but we can also play disciplined hockey if we need too. We can score on command at times, and can dominate a zone at times. It's true, our Defense can get inconsistent, but with Mesz and Grossman coming back with Gus-the-wunderkid... Man, this series is a whole lot more than just Bryz vs. Marty.
Take the Devils up and down the line and they just don't match up. From G-man on down to Zac Rinaldo (Ok, that might be a stretch) we're better.
There's Briere-- our little giant, Simmonds, Hartzy, Old man Jagr (I kid, I kid... we're the same age!)Who do the devils have again? Just no-names playing a good "system" game. It's not enough.
Now, AGAIN, that doesn't mean get cocky, but it does mean a little swagger won't hurt! I wouldn't guarantee anything, but if I was going to bet on anyone it would be Philly in 5. Mark it! (But please don't ask me to pay if I'm wrong... I'm rather poor)
GO FLYERS GO! BLEEDING WITH YOU UNTIL MID-JUNE!— WestonF01
