(7) PHILADELPHIA FLYERS vs (6) BOSTON BRUINS<\/strong><\/p>\nFirst things first: expect this series to be an all-out war. These are two tough teams who love to hit and have plenty of size all over the depth chart.<\/p>\n
Think of the battles we\u2019re about to see: Milan Lucic versus Chris Pronger? Zdeno Chara versus Mike Richards? It\u2019s a recipe for some great storylines and bad blood.<\/p>\n
The Flyers and Bruins definitely took similar routes to victory in the first round, relying on tight defense and good goaltending while chipping in just enough offense to get the job done.<\/p>\n
The Flyer forwards had a huge size advantage over the tiny Devil defenders and exploited that on the forecheck. They\u2019ll have a tougher time doing so in round two against the Boston blueline, which features beasts like Chara and Johnny Boychuk.<\/p>\n
The biggest surprise for Philly in round one was Brian Boucher. The third-stringer, thrust into starting duty after Ray Emery and Michael Leighton went down, struggled down the stretch in the regular season. But everything clicked in time for the Devils series and Boucher miraculously outplayed Martin Brodeur.<\/p>\n
Boston also relied on a powerful forecheck to generate offense in round one. No single forward stood out but Miroslav Satan, Mark Recchi and Patrice Bergeron all had their moments. Better yet, it appears Marc Savard, by far Boston\u2019s top offensive player, will rejoin the team in time for this series.<\/p>\n
Savard\u2019s return marks what should be a crucial difference; whereas Boston\u2019s impact players are returning, the Flyers\u2019 top guys are departing.<\/p>\n
Both Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne will miss the series after each broke a foot blocking a shot against the Devils. It\u2019s a huge blow to what should\u2019ve been an offensive edge for the Flyers. ![\"Sports](\"http:\/\/affiliates.commissionaccount.com\/processing\/impressions.asp?btag=a_3953b_677\")
<\/p>\n
Losing two of their best trigger men could stop the Flyers from winning this series \u2013 especially since they\u2019ll have the daunting task of putting pucks past Tuukka Rask. Even though Boucher was just as good as Rask, if not better, in round one, I think it was an anomaly.<\/p>\n
Rask has the real pedigree; he was always expected to become a star goaltender. It was just a matter of when. Well, the when appears to be now. With the Flyers missing key forwards, I\u2019m not sure Mike Richards or Daniel Briere alone can overcome the two-layered wall of Chara and Rask.<\/p>\n
Sure \u2013 the Flyers have a huge, highly talented defense corps, led by Pronger and also including Braydon Coburn and rocksteady Kimmo Timonen. But the hulking Boston forwards overcame giants like Tyler Myers and Craig Rivet in round one. They can probably do it again.<\/p>\n
This series is extremely close to call but I see Carter and Gagne\u2019s injuries as the difference maker. Offense is suddenly a wash and Boston still does a better job keeping pucks out of the net, so it should ride Rask and home ice to a narrow win.<\/p>\n
Prediction: <\/strong>Bruins in seven<\/p>\nCLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT SPORTSBOOK.COM\u2019S NHL HOCKEY BETTING LINES FOR THIS WEEK’S MATCHUPS!!!!<\/h3>\n
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