Carcillowinterclassic

Flyers vs. Bruins to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals – a match-up no hockey analyst could have predicted. In the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Flyers manhandled a solid Devils team in five games. The Bruins, backed by goaltender Tuukka Rask and solid specialty-teams play, upset the #3 seed Buffalo Sabres in six games. Beginning Saturday afternoon at 12:30, these two teams will face-off in a Winter Classic rematch. You can catch the entire Flyers second-round playoff schedule here.

(As a side note, let's predict how many times we'll hear "Winter Classic rematch," as if we had no idea they played in the game just a few months ago. I predict 892 times.)

I picked the Flyers in seven against Jersey. This time, despite being injury-depleted, I'm going to pick the Flyers in 6. Here's why:

Like the Devils, the Bruins simply don't score goals. They rely on solid goaltending, a tight defense, and playing well on special teams. Although the Devils tuned out their coach, they got the #2 seed based on strong defensive play and a guy you may have heard of named Martin Brodeur. Sound familiar? If the Flyers continue to take control of the game and play an up-tempo, all-attack game, they should be able to beat the Bruins like they beat the Devils (though not quite as easily).

Expect a physical series. There won't necessarily be many, if any, fights, but the games will be physical. Two players, Chris Pronger and Zdeno Chara, will have big series in this regard. Chris Pronger will be forced to contain Patrice Bergeron and Marc Savard (returning from a concussion on the dirty hit by Matt Cooke), while Chara will have to keep Giroux and Richards to the outside.

Boucher and Rask were two of the best three goalies in the first round (with Halak of Montreal being the third). If Boucher can keep riding his hot streak and prevent bad goals, the Flyers will win the series. Don't be surprised if Rask steals a game as well; I think he will have a big series but not big enough.

In order to win the series, the Flyers will have to create their own energy with Laperriere out of the lineup. Just when fans thought the injury situation couldn't get any worse with Gagne and Carter gone, the Flyers heart and soul will be missing throughout the remainder of the playoffs. (Gagne could return as early as Game 2, but Game 3 seems like a more realistic possibility.) A "let's win this for Lappy" attitude could go a long way. Even though the Bruins played well in the first round and the Flyers are injury-depleted, the Bruins are a very beatable team and a good matchup for the Flyers. (For those who are interested, the Bruins were 2-1-1 against the Flyers in the regular season, but I still like the matchup.)

Former Flyers always come back and haunt us. I wouldn't be surprised if Mark Recchi popped in a couple of goals throughout the series. 

I believe that if the Flyers play their game, they can beat the Bruins. That's why I'm going Flyers in 6. 

In other series:

     -What a comeback by Montreal to come back from a 3-1 deficit, including a Game 7 win in    Washington. Despite the spectacular play of Halak, the Penguins will beat the Habs in 6. A Keystone State Eastern Conference Finals is a very real possibility.

    -I'm going a Blackhawks/Wings Western Conference Finals. I really like Detroit in the West, so I think they will upset the Sharks and possibly the Blackhawks. But we'll save that for another day.

Anyway, go Flyers! I'll be at Game 5 in Boston (assuming there is one). Enjoy the series, it should be a good one. And there should be a much better playoff atmosphere than the one in Jersey.