NHL Playoff Preview - Bruins @ Flyers

Flyers Will Avoid Sweep

The Boston Bruins were not given much of a chance my many prognosticators after limping in to the 2010 NHL playoffs. However, an opening round win over the Buffalo Sabres, and three straight victories over the Philadelphia Flyers have moved the team that finished sixth in the Eastern conference standings to within one game of reaching the Eastern conference finals for the second consecutive year. 

Boston Bruins @ Philadelphia Flyers

Friday May 7th – 7:00 PM ET

Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Broadcast: TSN, Versus

NHL Playoff Betting Line: Philadelphia -135

Puck Line: Flyers -1.5 +230, Bruins +1.5 -270

A 4-1 loss on home ice in Game Four has pushed the Flyers to within one game of elimination, and having only held the lead for a total of 1:39 this entire series, Philadelphia will have to come up with a way to slow down the Bruins in a hurry if they are to have any chance of avoiding elimination. The loss of David Krejci down the middle hurts Boston, and with the possible return of Flyers’ winger Simon Gagne for Friday night, the playing field could be a little more even. The loss of Gagne and center Jeff Carter has hindered the Philadelphia attack in this series, as it has managed just seven goals over the first three games, four of which came in the Game Three loss. 

What The Bruins Will Have To Do To Win: 

Many are surprised by Boston’s play in the postseason, but a closer look at the way this team has played shows that they are built for playoff hockey. Great goaltending, timely goal scoring, and a defense core built on strength and led by the biggest force on the back end in the NHL, Zdeno Chara, have all been factors in the Bruins moving to within one game of advancing to the conference finals. Tuukka Rask has been phenomenal in the playoffs, boasting a 2.14 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. The return of Marc Savard has provided the offense with a boost, and he will need to be even better for the Bruins to seal the series in four straight after losing fellow center David Krejci. 

What The Flyers Will Have To Do To Win: 

Philadelphia has thrown everything they have at the Boston net, but still have yet to find a way to secure a win. That means the pressure will be even greater on Flyers’ netminder Brian Boucher, who has allowed 12 goals combined in the first three games of the series. Not only will Boucher need to be better, but he will need some help from Chris Pronger and company in front of him, who have allowed the Bruins too many easy chances in close. Scoring some goals might go a long way as well. 

Outlook & Pick: 

Although the Bruins have dominated, it’s hard to imagine the Flyers allowing them to take the series in four straight. Philadelphia will throw everything they have at Boston in front of its home crowd, and with  Simon Gagne potentially back in the lineup, and David Krejci already ruled out for Boston, that could be enough the help the Flyers win their first game of the series. 

NHL Playoff Betting Pick: Philadelphia