The Flyers have officially become the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. While not unexpected based on their position in the standings (they’ve been in first place since January 8), it’s relieving to not have to wait until a midnight hour shootout to know you’ve got a postseason to look forward to, rather than tee time.
After juggling the forward lines for several games, coach Peter Laviolette used a line-up in last night’s shootout victory over the Dallas Stars that is likely to remain intact for the playoffs. That includes the LBH line, a Nodl-Giroux-Carter line, a JVR-Richards-Versteeg line, and a Carcillo-Betts-Powe fourth line. That leaves Nikolai Zherdev and Jody Shelley as the healthy scratches.
On defense, Chris Pronger is expected to return in time for the playoffs and the defensive pairings will revert back to what we’ve seen over the majority of the season. Pronger’s absence from the line-up has the convenient bonus of resting him before the playoffs begin. In the event of another injury, I imagine Nick Boynton will get the call over rookie Erik Gustafsson, despite his decent play in the last two games.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to get the remainder of the starts as the regular season closes out.
If this team continues to tear it up over the last 11 games, the Flyers have a strong shot of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals. If they revert to bad habits and lose confidence, the climb will become that much steeper.
A return to the Finals doesn’t guarantee success either, and the orange and black may find themselves overpowered if they face the Vancouver Canucks, the favored contender from the Western Conference. Between the Sedin twins, Mikael Samuelsson, Ryan Kesler and Roberto Luongo, the Cancucks have elite talent, elite goaltending, and substantial player depth that is arguably steeper than Philadelphia’s.
The Flyers return from their three game road trip (where they obtained 5 out of 6 possible points) on Tuesday to take on a dangerous Washington Capitals team. I wasn’t as worried about facing them midway through the season, as they appeared to have confidence issues in the locker room that were keeping them from winning close games (sounds familiar). Lately, though, they’ve been nipping on the Flyers’ heels for first place.
Flyers will be out in the 1st/2nd Round this Playoff season,
They missed their golden opportunity last Playoffs when both the Penguins/Capitols were eliminated early and unexpectantly and didn’t take advantage. The Flyers will fall back into their usual pattern of the last 20 years,of being a disappoinment and getting bounced out when the games become meaningful……
Thanks for more positivity, dick.
I like that Richards-Versteeg line with JVR. If young James can bring some more physicality and crash the crease. This is gonna be a heck of an exciting week with wash and pitt coming to town. I expected wash to be in this position at this time of year but pitt has been amazing without Crosby AND Malkin.
paulman as i have mentioned before stick to the eagles. you hockey opinion is not that good.
Your right Lewdoggie about my lack of Hockey knowledge,
The NHL Regualr season has become too long and drawn out with too many meaningless games (like the NBA has) and with Players/Coaches changing teams so often anymore,that I don’t follow the sport like I used to and until playoffs come around, I really don’t pay much attention to it…
When all else fails though, I go by past tendancies and this Flyers Organization has been overrated for years and has under-acheived so often in the Post-Season that I think it’s pretty good odds that they under perform
again this year. I still am not sold on the Goaltending and the Defensive Unit
as a whole and until top players like Richards,Carter, Hartnell become more
consistnet during the playoffs, then I see no chance for this squad and would probably have a tough time beating the Devils,Hurricaines,Capitols,Penquins in a Series
Paul, if you lack knowledge, try something different for a change, like shutting your damn yap, please, just once
Someone has the get the fans-riled up Jake, and it might as well be me….
Oooh,another Prediction, President Obama wins re-election in 2012 in a very
close election.
It’s not going to be close… since you like talking about matchups, who are the Republicans going to put up as opposition? Romney, whose health care plan was basically the same one Obama used? Huckabee, who wants to make the country a theocracy? Palin??
Devils: two losses last week killed them, no way they make up 7 points in 10 games with three teams ahead of them. Hurricanes: even if they make the playoffs, why not? You’re showing your hometown bias there. Penguins and Capitals are both tough, I’ll grant you that. This week will show how well the Flyers match up against those two teams, for better or worse.
Flyers have time to right the ship and need to keep their focus here on out,they are more than capable and have an epxerienced, talented squad and a good HC..I still am concerned about their Goalie play down the stretch and playoff time..
As far as a Republican Candidate.. it’s wide open but it won’t be Romney
(He’s doesn’t do well in the South, Rural America, His Health Care Plan in MAss and plus he’s a Mormon)
It won’t be Huckabee for he’s too rural and not in tight with Media/Wall Street Gang that you have to be in order to raise $$$
It won’t Gingrinch or Palin for they are too polarizing..
Gingring fooling around on his 1st & 2 Wife, been married 3 times,
Palin quit on her last elected job as Governor 1 1/2 years into her term and really has nothing to gain by running, she is making plenty of $$$ now writing books, on the Speaking Tours around the Country, having her reality of show and commentating on Fox.. She’s support strong by about 40% of the people but the rest can’t stand her and see right thru her chrades..
I think a more, normal, regular type of boring candidate like a Tim Pawlenty or Mitch Daniels or someone out of the blue like COlin Powell, DAvid PAtreaus could come out and get a lot of support from the Moderate Republics and Middle of the road Independants instead of some of these firnge people like Michelle Bachman, Haley Barbour, Rick Santorum who just won’t get enough support to be able to raise $$ and sustain a campaign…
Concerned about the Flyers goaltending? I’ve heard this song before. Every year for the last 20 years, actually.
Daniels has made it sound like he’s not in. Pawlenty just announced he’s running, and from the sound of his early announcements, he’s going to be as polarizing as possible. I’d love to have a real libertarian to vote for, but that’ll never happen. At this rate it’s going to be the same choice it always is: someone who will take your money and your rights, or someone who will take the next generation’s money and even more of your rights.