Flyers get crushed by Bruins
By Kevin K

The downside of today is that the Flyers got crushed 7-3 at the hands of the Bruins in Game One of the series. The upside of the day is that it was only Game One. The Flyers only find themselves down one game in the series and not three (right now that is) like they were last year.

This is still hope for this ever fighting Flyers squad.

The problem now is the problem the Flyers faced in the first round ... who is in net? Let the goalie carousal continue; however, if I were Laviolette I would do what he did all season and split the starts between Bob and Boosh. I know it's not the "playoff" thing to do, but the one starting goalie thing for the Flyers hasn't worked yet in the Playoffs, so why not do what worked.

Of course we will know more about the Game Two starting goalie prior to the game on Monday, and (once again) we will keep you updated on it.

Second Round Rematch: Flyers/Bruins Preview
By, Casey Simpkins

On Tuesday, we saw the conclusion of perhaps the strangest first round series we will ever see.  The Flyers made history, becoming the first team to start three different goaltenders in a series since 1988.  We saw Brian Boucher have perhaps the worst game of his career, and then rebound with a strong performance, outperforming Ryan Miller to secure a Flyers victory in Game 7.  Speaking of Miller, he went from almost single handedly winning the Sabres this series, to getting pulled early in the third period in Game 7.  So much for the Buffalo goaltending advantage being the key to Game 7, huh Matt Barnaby?

So, with all that being said, the Flyers will open up the second round against the Boston Bruins for the second year in a row this Saturday at 3pm, but this one will be at home.  We all know the Flyers made history last season against Boston, coming back after being down 3-0 in the series, and 3-0 in Game 7, but this is a new season, and a new series. 

When analyzing this series on paper, it’s not much different than the last.  Once again, the Flyers are the more balanced offensively, and with Chris Pronger back in action, have the advantage defensively as well.  Though the Flyers leading goal scorer in the regular season, Jeff Carter, is day to day, he is expecting to return at some point during the series.  However, even without Carter, the Flyers are still the more potent team offensively, as the Bruins leading regular season scorer would only rank fifth on the Flyers roster.

Once again, the only advantage the opposition has over the Flyers is goaltending.  After facing a tough test in the form of Ryan Miller, the Flyers must now face this year’s likely Vezina Trophy winner, Tim Thomas.  Thomas has an unorthodox style in net, but you can’t argue against his NHL record .938 save percentage in the regular season.  After the Flyers experimented with three different goaltenders in the quarterfinals, they seem to have found their man in Brian Boucher.  As Barry Melrose put it on Sportscenter last night, Boucher doesn’t have to win this series, he just has to not lose it.  If Boucher does as he did in Game 7 against Buffalo, the goaltending factor is not as major as it may seem on paper.  Also, it’s important to note that the Bruins posted an abysmal 0 for 21 on the powerplay, which should definitely make Boucher and the Flyers feel a little more comfortable defensively.

So, my pick is the Flyers in 6.  Aside from one game in the opening series, we saw the Flyers play with the same relentless attitude they did in last year’s playoffs.  In addition, we saw my favorite Flyer, James van Riemsdyk, play with a confidence and aggressiveness we have not yet seen from him, but we hope to see for years to come.  With a lack of offensive firepower on the Bruins roster, and the Flyers powerplay coming to life late in the first series, the Flyers will be too much for Tim Thomas and company to handle.  Lastly, my player of the series is going to have to be Claude Giroux, who had an extremely quiet 9 points in the opening series, and should add on to that significantly by the time he’s through with Boston.

LET’S GO FLYERS!

Game 1: Sat. April 30th - 3:00 on NBC (in Philadelphia)
Game 2: Mon. May 2nd - 7:30 on VERSUS (in Philadelphia)
Game 3: Wed. May 4th - 7:00 on VERSUS (in Boston)
Game 4: Fri. May 6th - 8:00 on VERSUS (in Boston)
Game 5*: Sun. May 8th - 3:00 on NBC (in Philadelphia)
Game 6*: Tues. May 10th - TBD on VERSUS (in Boston)
Game 7*: Thurs. May 12th - TBD on VERSUS (in Philadelphia)

* = if necessary

Flyers vs Bruins: NHL Playoff Schedule

Game 1: Sat. April 30th - 3:00 on NBC (in Philadelphia)
Game 2: Mon. May 2nd - 7:30 on VERSUS (in Philadelphia)
Game 3: Wed. May 4th - 7:00 on VERSUS (in Boston)
Game 4: Fri. May 6th - 8:00 on VERSUS (in Boston)
Game 5*: Sun. May 8th - 3:00 on NBC (in Philadelphia)
Game 6*: Tues. May 10th - TBD on VERSUS (in Boston)
Game 7*: Thurs. May 12th - TBD on VERSUS (in Philadelphia)

* = if necessary

Flyers win series!
By Kevin K

From the start of Game 7 you could tell that the Flyers did not want to go home. They owned it. They threw everything they could at Ryan Miller and the Sabres in the first period only to have a wrist shot trickle in with under a minute to go. After one period of play, the Flyers found themselves up 1-0, only allowed the Sabres 2 shots in the period.

The Flyers strong and consistent play continued from there. Brian Boucher made save after save and the Flyers offense was cruising. After two periods, the Flyers were up 3-0 and found them one period away from advancing to the next round.

Only a few minutes into the third, Ville Leino put a slap shot past Ryan Miller to put the Flyers up 4 and end the night for Miller. Yes, the All-Star goalie for the Sabres was pulled!

The Flyers had strong play and consistency throughout the game, giving them a 5-2 win over the Sabres  The Flyers are now one more step away from their ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup. The Flyers still do not know who their next opponent will be, but they will be ready.

Flyers fight back
By Kevin K

The Flyers found themselves in a hole when Michael Leighton allowed two weak goals in the first period (3 in all) on only 7 shots. After one period of play, the Flyers were down 3-1. Enter Brian Boucher.

Boucher was pissed off on Friday after allowing two weak goals of his own, this was his shot at redemption. Boosh played strong and allowed the Flyers to come back and tie the game at 3. With the second period winding down, the Sabres struck back and put one in of their own, but that would be the end of their scoring.

The Flyers came out strong in the third period and were able to tie it at 4 after a Scott Hartnell goal!

Heading into Overtime, the Flyers were looking for redemption from Friday night, and the got it. Ville Leino came up huge after a rebound came right his way. The Flyers left Buffalo with a tied series heading back to Philadelphia!

Last season, the Flyers were 5-1 in elimination games (including the final game of the season). This year, they look to remain perfect. They face their second elimination of the series on Tuesday. The Sabres are 1-5 in Game 7s, compared with the Flyers who are 8-6.

Boucher in net for Game 7

Peter Laviolette announced after the game on Sunday that Brian Boucher will be in goal on Tuesday for Game 7

Richards WILL NOT be suspended

After Lindy Ruff complained about Flyers "whining", he whined himself. Last night he said that he hopes the NHL suspends Mike Richards for his hit on Tim Connolly. Nick Kypreos reported that Mike Richards will not be suspended for the hit, so Lindy can continue to whine.

Flyers face elimination
By Kevin K

Usually I would stay positive and give you a recap of the game along with my cheers and jeers of the game, not today. Today I complain. Today I rant. Today I am angry.

I am done with this whole "Home Ice Advantage" when it obviously doesn't change the game. The Flyers have LOST two of the three home games, including a Game Five loss Friday night. Sure the Flyers fought back to tie up the game only to lose in Overtime, but when you have a terrible Power Play, the Flyers aren't going to succeed.

There is no flow to the Power Play, no rush along with stupid passes to set up the perfect play. IT ISN'T WORKING! Today at practice the Flyers focused on their Power Play woes, putting in four forwards (JVR, Richards, Briere, and Giroux) with one defender (TImonen).

This setup may help them only because JVR has showed up and played aggressive throughout the Playoffs. However, CAPTAIN Mike Richards hasn't done much. Sure he has setup two pretty goals by Zherdev and Briere, but he has done nothing else. Richards is supposed to take over the game as our Captain, but it seems as if he isn't showing up.  Richie needs to step up his play if the Flyers want to win the next two games and somehow make it to the next round.

Now the Flyers face elimination with a huge question mark at goaltending. Who is it going to be? Boucher allowed two cheap goals early on in Game Five, Bob looked bad in a Game two win for the Flyers, and Leighton looked solid in Game Five off the bench, allowing a rebound to go in the net (in which Matt Carle was right there, but didn't do his job). Right now the goalie for Game Six is a game time decision; however, look at the other side of the ice. ONE solid, strong goalie, carrying the Sabres to victory on his back. The Sabres are not working with three backup goalies, they are working with ONE solid goalie. One goalie that is carrying the team with him. Now this has been a constant problem for the Flyers since Ron Hextall and seems as if it will continue to be.

Now the Flyers are on the brink of elimination. How will they come out in Game Six? Will they play like they did last year against Boston, or will they play like their run is over?

We will know on Easter Sunday.

Keep it on the Philly Phans Facebook and Twitter for the late breaking news on Game Six.

Miller Stands on Head
By Kevin K

There were three key factors in the Flyers 1-0 Game Four loss over the Buffalo Sabres.

One: Defense in the first period. Yes you may attack me and say that the Flyers defense played great all game, but there was one key play that ruined the game for the Flyers, the goal. In the first period the Flyers left Pominville wide open in front of the net with no wingers dropping back to cover on defense. Pominville received the pass from Niedermayer and put it home for the lead and ultimately the win for the Sabres.

Two: Missed opportunities for the Flyers. There were chances down the stretch for the Flyers that either Miller put aside or the Flyers failed to take the shot. It seems that sometimes the Flyers look for the pretty pass before they look to shoot. The problem with this is that the only way to beat Miller is to shoot on Miller.

Three: Ryan Miller. Yes Ryan Miller and Ryan Miller alone is the only reason the Flyers are tied in the series with the Sabres. Not the referees, not the Flyers goal-tending, it was and will remain to be Ryan Miller. The Flyers were able to put constant pressure on Miller in the third period. Flyers and Sabres fans alike were going crazy on how Miller constantly robbed the Flyers from goals. Most notably, stopping his former teammate, Danny Briere, wide open in front of the net.

Injury Update

With about two minutes left in the first period, Jeff Carter collided knees with Buffalo defense-man Tyler Myers. Myers came back on the ice in the second period, with no sign of Jeff Carter. After the game Carter was limping and ruled "day-to-day" without the Flyers saying anything else. Carter is set to be re-evaluated today in Philadelphia.

I, as well as actual reporters, do not expect Jeff Carter to play in Game Five in Philadelphia.

Who I expect to play in Game Five is defense-man Chris Pronger. Pronger has been taking wrist shots at practice the last few days and putting zip on them.

I do not know about you but I sit here in anticipation waiting to see how the Sabres react to the maniac of Chris Pronger in the game for the Flyers.

Flyers Lead Series
By Kevin K

The Flyers went into Buffalo on Monday night with a new starting goalie, a new backup goalie, and a new winger; all but one really paid off for them.

The big news heading into the game was the scratching of Sergei Bobrovsky in favor of Brian Boucher (starting goalie) and Michael Leighton (backup). The adding of the veteran goaltender paid dividends for the Flyers as Boosh was on the top of his game.

Boucher really played well in the first period, but shined in the third. The Sabres were on a 5 on 3 advantage and Boucher was up for the challenge, stopping every shot Buffalo had for him.

“With those power plays and the opportunities that they had, he just settled things down for us. I think that’s what he did coming off the bench for us in his last two starts," Laviolette said about Boucher.

Cheers

Other than Brian Boucher, who is our stand-out star of the game, cheers go to the Flyers goal scorers. Jeff Carter played incredibly well throughout the first period and it showed when he scored his first goal of the Playoffs.

Nikolay Zherdev, all he does is score. Zherdev proved me right on Monday when he replaced Andreas Nodl in the lineup and scored a key goal for the Flyers.

Mike Richards, although he has yet to score, Richie's pass to Zherdev setup one of the most memorable goals so far in this series.

Danny Briere, another day, another goal against his former team. Briere put in the game winning goal against his former team and continues to shine against them. Briere, I said, was going to be the key to the Flyers winning this series. So far I am wrong there (Boucher is), however, Briere was the key to the Flyers winning Game Three on Monday.

Blair Betts and Darroll Powe played increasingly well on the Penalty Kill. This two players do not get a ton of credit because they don't normally score goals; however, their PK ability was key to the Flyers win.

Jeers

Scott Hartnell, stupid penalties almost cost the team. Yes Hartnell has played well and stood up for Danny Briere on Saturday, but Hartnell continues to make stupid mistakes and take stupid penalties. Hartnell needs to settle down and get into the flow of the game.


Ville Leino, he needs to shoot. Leino is personally my favorite Flyer, however, he seemed to be absent most of the game and he is constantly looking for the pretty pass. Leino has the ability to score and needs to show it throughout the Playoffs.

Flyers/Sabres Playoff Preview
By Casey Simpkins

Well folks, playoff hockey is finally here!  I’m sure others would love to argue with me, but in my opinion there is nothing better in the world of sports than playoff hockey.  Playoff hockey has entirely different pace than any other sport, as every player goes full throttle on each shift, and the unlikeliest of players can step up and propel their team to victory (i.e. Dan Carcillo).  We all remember the historical run to the Cup the Flyers gave us last season, and though they have struggled down the stretch, I have high expectations for them once again this year.

The playoffs will start a little differently for the team this year, as they are the number 2 seed in the East, and will have home ice advantage against the 7th seeded Buffalo Sabres.  This will be the ninth playoff meeting between these two franchises, with their first meeting occurring when the Flyers topped Buffalo in the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals, where the Broad Street Bullies fought through the infamous “Fog Game” in Buffalo, to win their second straight Stanley Cup.

Of course, a large question mark in this series will be Chris Pronger.  We have all seen how miserable this defense can be without their leader, and his return will be essential to another Flyers run to the Cup.  Pronger, along with the team’s top penalty killer, Blair Betts, is day to day, and the status of both players is uncertain heading into game 1.

When healthy, the Flyers are much deeper offensively and defensively than the Sabres, or perhaps any other team in the conference for that matter.  The bottom line is that this series is going to come down to goaltending, and the Sabres do indeed have the advantage in that category, as they offer defending Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller, and the Flyers must counter with unproven rookie Sergei Bobrovsky.  Miller has been bothered by nagging injuries all year, but he stole the show against the world’s best in last year’s Olympics, and he will definitely try to steal this series from the Flyers.  However, I think we are going to see the Sergei Bobrovsky that won our hearts in the first quarter of the season, as the playoffs are as good a time as any for a young goalie to make his mark as a superstar in this league.

I have complete confidence that we will see the same relentless, deep, talented, Flyers team we saw in last season’s playoffs, and though it will be a tough test, I see Sergei Bobrovsky upstaging Ryan Miller, as the Flyers will take this series in 5, with one hiccup in Buffalo.

Here is the schedule for this Flyers/Sabres opening series,

LET’S GO FLYERS!

Game 1: Thurs., April 14 – 7:30 p.m. on VERSUS, CSN-PH
Game 2:  Sat., April 16 – 5:00 p.m. CSN-PH
Game 3:  at BUF, Mon., April 18 – 7:00 p.m. on VERSUS, CSN-PH
Game 4: at BUF, Wed., April 20 – 7:30 p.m. on VERSUS, CSN-PH
Game 5: Fri, April 22 – 7:30 p.m. on VERSUS, CSN-PH
Game 6: at BUF, Sun, April 24 – 3:00 p.m. on NBC
Game 7: Tue., April 26 – CSN-PH

New Helmet for Bob!

Philly Sports Daily posted the pictures of Sergei Bobrovsky's new helmet for the Playoffs. Read their post here, or just look at the awesome helmet.