In Boston, Flyers looking to win series' first dance

BOSTON - It can be intimidating. And a little uncomfortable.

But Blair Betts doesn't mind starting a playoff series on the road.

Today, as the Flyers and Bruins tangle in an Eastern Conference semifinal at TD Garden, the Flyers will feel the awkwardness of a teenage boy scouting the opposition at a middle school dance. They will be in the position to ask the first question - to make the first move.

The Bruins, like the teenage girls, will be put in a position to respond - while everyone else at the dance, or everyone else in the Garden, stares. It all depends on how the Flyers present themselves.

"Playing on the road gives us the first crack," Betts said. "It's a big advantage for us if we come out and play well that first game. It's the exact same as the New Jersey series.

"I think if we play really well that first game and win it, that puts a lot of pressure on the other team right off the bat for Game 2. You have to win your games at home, basically. If they come out and win their games at home, they're all right."

Other than having the gall to ask the question - or enter the bear's den - all of the pressure is on the Bruins. With a win today or Monday, the seventh-seeded Flyers can steal home ice from the sixth-seeded Bruins.

"There's no pressure," Chris Pronger said. "They've obviously got to perform at home."

The Flyers enter Round 2 after a full 8 days of rest, which coach Peter Laviolette said was "full of excitement" and "nothing like an Olympic break."

"I don't mind starting on the road," captain Mike Richards echoed. "It's always nice to play at home. But I think, especially after a long layoff, it's tough to start at home.

"[But] I've never started a series at home. So I don't know what it's like."

Simon Gagne had an MRI on his right foot yesterday to check the status of his fractured big toe, suffered when blocking a shot against the Devils in Game 4 of the first round.

"While the study showed signs of healing, Simon is still listed as out indefinitely," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said yesterday. "Simon will continue to do his off-ice conditioning and rehab."

Gagne had two screws surgically inserted in his toe on April 23. He said earlier in the week he "felt good" but would be on crutches for at least another week.

Jared Ross is expected to center the Flyers' third line with James van Riemsdyk and Arron Asham flanked to his left and right, respectively. Ross, who captained the Phantoms this season, scored a goal for the Flyers in their first-round series with the Penguins last year.

In practice yesterday, Andreas Nodl skated on the fourth line with Brian Betts and Darroll Powe. Claude Giroux, who skated with van Riemsdyk and Asham for most of the last round, moved up to the wing on the first line with Mike Richards and Dan Carcillo.

The second line - Scott Hartnell, Danny Briere and Ville Leino - remained the same as Game 5 of the first round.

Oskars Bartulis, Jon Kalinski and Danny Syvret also accompanied the Flyers on the team charter yesterday afternoon, though none are expected to suit up in Game 1 . . . Michael Leighton took the bulk of the shots in yesterday's practice at the Skate Zone. Leighton has been out since March 16 with a left high ankle sprain. Johan Backlund will handle the backup duties today.

"My allegiance hasn't been with Boston since they fired me as an assistant coach. Those days are gone. I'm not a kid anymore and Bobby Orr doesn't wear No. 4 out on the ice anymore. I'm passionate about the Philadelphia Flyers now."

- Peter Laviolette, 45, on growing up in Franklin, Mass., as a Bruins fan.

For more news and analysis, read Frank Seravalli's blog, Frequent Flyers, at http://go.philly.com/frequentflyers.