Flyers-Penguins Series Preview

The Flyers-Penguins series will be one for the ages.

Attention all baseball fans: it is still hockey season. 


With the NHL Playoffs starting in less than a week, the Flyers are once again in contention to win Lord Stanley's Cup.


However, it is not with the faces many expected to see. With Paul Holmgren's total overhaul, a few unexpected faces have the Flyers poised for a cup run.


But if the Flyers even want to make it past the first round, they will have to get past interstate rival the Pittsburgh Penguins.


It is no secret that the Flyers and Penguins hate each other, and that was extremely evident in the teams' brawl in their April 1st matchup.


The newest installment of the "Battle For Pennsylvania" is set to be filled with bad blood, and will change the course of the teams rivalry forever. 


The playoff schedule is as follows:

Game 1		Wed., April 11		FLYERS at Pittsburgh	7:30 pm	CSN, NBCSN
Game 2		Fri., April 13		FLYERS at Pittsburgh	7:30 pm	CSN, NBCSN
Game 3		Sun., April 15		Pittsburgh at FLYERS	3:00 pm	NBC
Game 4		Wed., April 18		Pittsburgh at FLYERS	7:30 pm	CSN, NBCSN
* Game 5		Fri., April 20		FLYERS at Pittsburgh	7:30 pm	CSN, NBCSN
* Game 6		Sun., April 22		Pittsburgh at FLYERS	TBD	TBD
* Game 7		Tue., April 24		FLYERS at Pittsburgh	TBD	TBD

There is no concern for the Flyers when it comes to playing at the Consol Energy Center, or what has basically become Wells Fargo Center North. The Flyers are 5-1 all time in the Penguins new arena, scoring at least 3 goals in all 5 of their wins. 


Starting off the series in Pittsburgh gives two former Penguins, Max Talbot and Jaromir Jagr a chance to defeat their former team on their ice. Talbot and Jagr have both played a crucial role in the Flyers offense, and nothing would make them happier than to stick it to their old team. 


Each year, the Flyers always have one forward who carries the offensive load in the playoffs.  Last year it was James Van Riemsdyk. This year, watch for Wayne Simmonds to carry the load. In Simmonds past 10 games, he has put up 7 points. Simmonds has made a living in front of the net this year, and that is where he will find himself in the playoffs.


The former LA Kings member is extremely gritty, and his traffic in front of Marc-Andre Fleury will allow him and the rest of the Flyers to put up several goals.


However, the most important factor to the Flyers success will be the play of Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Nobody but Bryz himself knows which player will show up come Wednesday night. There is good Bryz, the one we have seen most of March, and then there is bad Bryz, the one we saw for, well, most of the season. 


Late in the season Flyers fans saw Bryzgalov develop a groove in net and make saves people were not used to seeing. His strong play set the tone for the rest of the team and he developed into the role of a defensive leader. 


The Penguins on the other hand have been just as hot as the Flyers. Marc Andre-Fleury is 2nd in the NHL in wins with 42, and the Flyers will not be able to get away with coming back down 2-0 in the playoffs like they did on April 1st.  


History also gives the Penguins the advantage. In the last two playoff series in which the Flyers have faced each other (2008, 2009) the Penguins have defeated the Flyers 4-1 and 4-2.


The only offense hotter than the Flyers has to be the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin and James Neal have been offensive leaders for the Penguins all year, with both 2nd and 4th in Goals.


More importantly, Sidney Crosby is finally back and playing with the Penguins. After missing 60 games with a concussion and other related injuries, Crosby has made quite the impact in his return. In his past 5 games, he has put up an incredible 12 points. 


In order for the Flyers to stop Penguins explosive offensive, the Flyers will have to make sure Crosby and Malkin are in check (shocking, I know). Good two way players such as Max Talbot, Wayne Simmonds, and rookie Sean Couturier will have to work hard on the back checking players like Neal and Crosby. 


Defenseman such as Nicklas Grossmann (who will play in the series) and Kimmo Timonen will need to separate the Penguins from the puck, as well as clearing out the lane in front of Bryzgalov. 


The Flyers netminder was very vulnerable to re-deflections in front due to traffic, and the Flyers will have to keep opponents away from the net.


My Prediction: Flyers defeat Penguins 4-3.


Maybe it is the homer in me, but I believe the Flyers can beat the Penguins. The Flyers absolutely dominate in Pittsburgh, and that is a stat that cannot be overlooked. With the return of Danny Briere, the Flyers are given another offensive threat. 


In the past two seasons with PHX, Bryzgalov carried the load right into the playoffs, which caused him to play poorly. Flyers Coach Laviolette has eased Bryz with a lighter workload, which will allow him to play strongly the entire series. 


It may not be easy, but the Flyers will pull off the victory, and head into the next round.