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Preview: (6) BRUINS vs. (7) FLYERS
EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW: (4) Pittsburgh vs. (8) Montreal | (6) Boston vs. (7) Philadelphia
WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW: (1) San Jose vs. (5) Detroit | (2) Chicago vs. (3) VancouverBY MIKE BROPHY
sportsnet.ca
(7) FLYERS 
(6) BRUINS
Both the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers failed to live up to pre-season expectations during the regular season, but one of them has the chance to make up for it in the playoffs with a trip to the Conference final.
These two hard-nosed franchises should provide some good, tough hockey in their second-round matchup.
FOR THE FLYERS TO WIN:
Goaltending was a huge issue for the Flyers heading into the playoffs - like that is a new storyline, huh? - but when Brian Boucher emerged as the statistical leader in goals-against average and save percentage at 1.59 and .940, perhaps it won't be such a big deal in Round 2. Dream on! Of course it will. Boucher deserves full marks for being a solid backstop for the Flyers, but we have seen him play well in short stints before, only to drop off just as quickly.
Though some feel he has slowed down, Flyers defenceman Chris Pronger proved once again when the chips are down, he remains one of the best defencemen in the NHL. That was evident in the gold-medal game at the Olympics when he led all skaters on Team Canada and Team USA in ice time and was arguably the best player in the game. With two goals and five points in five games, Pronger displayed his usual timely offence and he led all skaters in ice time in the opening round, averaging 29:03 per game. He looked as assertive as he did in 2005-06 when he helped the Edmonton Oilers take the Carolina Hurricanes to seven games in the Stanley Cup final. That trend will need to continue.
Captain Mike Richards' leadership was questioned this season, with some feeling he was part of a group of young players who spent too much time worrying about the night life and not enough to being committed to excellence on the ice. Regardless, Richards stepped up his play against New Jersey and led the Flyers with eight points in five games. His leadership on and off the ice is required if Philadelphia is to come close to meeting lofty pre-season expectations.
FLYERS UNSUNG HERO:
The temptation is to say it is veteran grinder Ian Laperriere, who plays with his heart on his sleeve, but unfortunately he is likely done for the year after blocking a shot with his face. So we defer to sophomore right winger Claude Giroux, who had four goals and six points against the Devils. Giroux is emerging as something of a playoff hero, having scored two goals and five points in six post-season games as a rookie last year.
FOR THE BRUINS TO WIN:
The big question is can Marc Savard bounce back successfully from a concussion that has kept him out of the lineup since he was kayoed by Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke in early March? Savard is one of those players that make others around him better. He had six goals and 13 points in 11 playoff games last year.
The other, most obvious, key individual for the Bruins is goaltender Tuukka Rask, who was fourth in goals-against average and save percentage at 2.18 and .927 after the opening round. Having supplanted Tim Thomas as the B's No. 1 stopper, Rask is looking very much like a goaltender who can single-handedly carry a team deep into the post-season.
Mark Recchi appears to have stumbled upon the fountain of youth and his scoring and leadership will both be keys moving forward. Meanwhile, rugged forward Milan Lucic's season-long struggles continued through most of the first round, but he did manage two assists in the deciding game against Buffalo which might bode well for the future.
BRUINS UNSUNG HERO:
Some people gasped when the Bruins signed Miroslav Satan for a little offensive support in early January. Satan, after all, has bounced around the past few years and his scoring has been in decline. Well, after managing just 14 points in 38 regular-season games, Satan struck for two goals - both game-winners - and five points in six games against Buffalo. Maybe Recchi is sharing some of his WATER.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
This one looks like a coin toss. Certainly the expectations heading into this season were much higher for the Flyers, but they barely squeaked into the playoffs. The Bruins, meanwhile, struggled after sacrificing scoring when they traded Phil Kessel to the Leafs for two first-round draft picks. Both teams seem to be finding their stride at the right time.
It will be a physical series with the Flyers emerging in seven games.
INTERESTING STAT:
The Bruins were No. 1 in penalty-killing in the first round, going a perfect 19-for-19 against the Sabres. Their power play wasn't bad either, finishing fourth. With Savard rejoining the Bruins, you might expect it to be even better. The Flyers take too many undisciplined penalties and while their penalty-killing unit was fourth in Round 1, that must change if they are to defeat the Bruins.
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Poll
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Who will win the Bruins-Flyers series?
EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW: WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW: (1) San Jose vs. (5) Detroit |