Philadelphia Flyers host Boston Bruins in Game 2

The Boston Bruins immediately jumped out on top and never trailed in the opening game of their 2^nd round series with the Philadelphia Flyers.  Looking to exorcise the ghost of last year’s epic meltdown when they took a commanding 3-0 series lead only to lose their next four consecutive games, the B’s know all too well that taking Game 1 is a good start but hardly a guaranteed ticket into the Eastern Conference finals.  However, it should be noted that the game’s Number One Star, David Krejci missed the final four games (all losses) of the playoffs last year to the Flyers and Brad Marchand, the game’s Number Two Star, was buried in the minors last season.  Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was injured and Boston sniper Nathan Horton was in a Florida Panthers uniform when the 2010 edition of the Boston Bruins made history by becoming only the 3^rd team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 series lead. 

Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are a physical team but the problem is, so are the Bruins.  Speed kills against big strong teams and the Bruins found that out the hard way in their first round series against the Canadiens.  Though Montreal was slightly less talented and far less imposing they nonetheless took the Bruins to the brink and almost stole Game 7 in Boston.  The Flyers will not be able to play that kind of a game and instead will rely on their own bruising brand of hockey to get the job done.  But to maintain that the Flyers are a one dimensional goon squad would be overlooking their very talented corps of forwards.  Ranked 3^rd in the entire league in goals scored during the regular season, Danny Briere continues to have a nose for the net as he scored in the 1^st period to tie the game and collect his 7^th goal of the postseason.  Twenty goal scorer James Van Riemsdyk lit the lamp in the 2^nd period and Mike Richards tallied too little too late in the 3^rd period as the Flyers were routed at home 7-3. 

Boston Bruins advantage between the pipes

The Bruins power play unit again came up empty as they had five man advantage situations on Saturday with nothing to show for it.  They are now 0-26 during the playoffs and though Philadelphia’s penalty killing unit was ranked only 15^th during the regular season, they have nothing to fear if the trend continues.  While the Bruins try to fix their power outage, the Flyers have a very obvious problem between the pipes.  Brian Boucher was tapped as the starter in Game 1 but was chased from the game and replaced by rookie Sergei Bobrovsky who surrendered 2 goals on only 10 shots in relief.  If the Flyers are to contend, they will need more than All-Star Chris Pronger to shine in their defensive zone.  Boston is a better offensive team than Philly’s 1^st round opponent, the Buffalo Sabres, and Bruins goalie Tim Thomas may just be the best netminder in the NHL. 

On the night

Philadelphia, like Boston, has a decent record at home but an even better mark on the road.  Therefore, the home ice advantage is not as great a factor as it might be with other teams and that was painfully obvious on Saturday night.  So what changes?  Does Philadelphia suddenly get stingy and their goaltending rise to the occasion?  I don’t think so.  I believe the Flyers are in real trouble particularly because Boston does not give up cheap goals.  The Bruins have two All-Stars patrolling the blueline in Zdeno Chara and Tomas Kaberle which won’t make life any easier for the boys in orange and black.  Philadelphia will need more than Danny Briere to contribute if they are to come out on top.  I don’t see it.  Philadelphia is 15-20 in series when they lose Game 1.  I will tell you what their historical record is after they lose Game 2.  Play Boston.