Philadelphia Flyers (26-15-9, 61 pts) at Boston Bruins (39-8-8, 84 pts)
TD Banknorth Garden - 1:00 PM EST - Boston, MA
TV: CSN HD, NESN HD
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 205
This is the open game thread.
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Behind Enemy Lines: Stanley Cup of Chowder
It's an abbreviated preview today since we already know all about these Bruins from a few nights ago.
Today is as close to a must win for the Flyers as they've had all season though. With Buffalo getting healthy and climbing in the standings, they've caught the Flyers in points and could pass them with a win today and a Philly loss to Boston. Buffalo, meanwhile, has what could be considered an easy game in Ottawa tonight.
But not so fast. The struggling Senators played the Bruins on Thursday night and gave them a run for their money, taking the game to the shootout before hitting a brick wall known as Tim Thomas.
Jared Ross is in the Flyers lineup today after being called back up and it looks like he'll play since Richards and Upshall are both still out. Coburn is back on the blue line. Metropolit is back on the top line... why? Giroux, coach?
The Flyers have been impotent on the power play lately -- just 1 for 25 in their last five games. That HAS to improve, quickly. They have to do a better job of moving their feet, and that was the focus all day at practice Thursday. If they keep moving, the necessity to take stupid stick penalties goes away.
Boston has only lost three games at home, but Philadelphia proved on Wednesday night that they can hang with these Bruins if they work hard for a full 60 minutes.
Between The Pipes: It's unknown who's in net today, but Manny Fernandez could be in goal for Boston. The team says he's back to 100 percent after his injury, and Thomas played two days in a row, so Fernandez seems to be a possibility today.
I'm just going to go out on a limb and say I hope Niittymaki gets the start today for the Flyers.
Questions To Answer
- The first goal is going to be very important today because the Flyers need to get in front and play a quality road game. Do they get it?
- Does the addition of Braydon Coburn to the blueline help at all?
- Can the power play break out of its slump?
- Jeff Carter was snakebitten on Wednesday night, missing open nets a few times and having two Bruin goals bounce off of him. Does he turn around that misfortune with a vengeance today?
Go Flyers.