Sergei Bobrovsky: The Future in Philadelphia’s Net

Sergei Bobrovsky. While you may not know the name now, I promise that you will by the end of this article and will remember it for a long time. He is supposed to be the next great goaltender of the Philadelphia Flyers. Bobrovsky is hoping to fly in lineage with the likes of Bernie Parent, Pelle Lindbergh and Ron Hextall.

The Flyers may not have to wonder who their goalie is for much longer with “Bob” sweeping through town. The “Bob” Phenomenon will take the city of Philadelphia by storm very soon, providing them with a top-flight goaltender for the first time in a long time.

The young Russian prospect, with the right guidance, will be a star in this league for many years. Under the tutelage of Flyers’ Goalie Coach Jeff Reese, among others, Bobrovsky will flourish. Reese has already done wonders in rejuvenating Michael Leighton which paid off last season.

Bobrovsky presents a different type of net minder than the ordinary ones that Flyer fans have been graced with. The mediocrity of guys like Robert Esche, Sean Burke, and countless others, was solid enough, but ultimately could never deliver a Stanley Cup. Leighton nearly did it, but he too proves to be nothing more than an ordinary goalie who rode a hot-streak. That being said, Leighton is a good goalie at best, nothing more, nothing less. Bobrovsky though, at least right now, appears to be the long-term answer for Philadelphia in net. This is something new to Philadelphia as they have not established a goalie in such a way in quite some time.

The KHL was a good preparatory program for the young Russian as it has been for many others who have catapulted to the NHL. There’s a certain launching pad that the KHL represents to its players that comes with much promise; the promise of one day playing in the NHL. Though, in Bobrovsky’s case, his story is even more impressive when considering that the KHL is a league that puts out more scorers than anything else.

Now with Michael Leighton out for at least a month, Bobrovsky just might make the opening night roster backing up veteran Brian Boucher. Bobrovsky or Swede Johan Backlund should get the duty of back-up goalie. Either way though, don’t expect Bobrovsky to take a backseat for much longer as he will be the starter one day very soon.

Bobrovsky provides a great sense of poise even at the keen age of 22 and will only continue to grow. While there is a ton of room for improvement, most of the mechanics seem to be solid and just his natural goaltending instincts are there already. He will be a gem for the Flyers and credit GM Paul Holmgren with a sensational find out of Russia.

It’s no wonder the Flyers spent no off-season money on starting goaltending. Bobrovsky has shown them that much already in a short period of time. He will most likely take the reins after Leighton’s contract is up, or who knows, maybe even sooner?

UFC 119 Predictions

Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens - Both men enter this battle with something to prove despite each posting back-to-back victories. They're hoping to escape their spots in 155-purgatory and finally get some recognition.

Guillard has been a forgotten talent at lightweight for the past few years and now the veteran is looking to reignite his career. His judo takedowns and striking are among the best in the division and he’s a high motor fighter to boot.

Stephens is a very well-rounded young talent who is looking to make his mark at 155. If this fight stays standing and slugging, instant advantage to the heavy-hitting Stephens.

Neither man has ever been knocked out before, but this should be a slugfest with one man eventually hitting the canvas hard.

The Pick: Stephens by TKO in Rd. 2

Matt Serra vs. Chris Lytle - This rematch from TUF 4 will be contested under much different circumstances this time around. Back in 2006, a Welterweight Title shot was on the line, now these two veterans will try to re-capture their glory in a rematch. In their first bout, Serra’s split decision victory led him to the biggest upset in UFC history. Serra defeated Georges St. Pierre shortly thereafter to become the UFC Welterweight champion.

Serra comes in looking the best he’s looked since his triumph over GSP. The stakes are lower now though and at 36, another title shot appears to be out of Serra’s reach. Expect some rust from Serra as well who has not fought in nearly eight months.

Lytle has much to prove here. His sudden resurrection at 170 comes as no surprise since he is one of the sport’s most exciting competitors. Lytle now looks to prove his three-fight winning streak is no fluke and take out Serra.

The Pick: Lytle by Submission in Rd. 3

Evan Dunham vs. Sean Sherk - Evan “3D” Dunham remains undefeated in the UFC through his first 11 fights. Dunham, a rare specimen at lightweight looks to embark on a journey that will lead him to the top of the division. The submission specialist Dunham has the edge over the aging Sherk, whose career went to spoils when he was accused of steroid usage in 2007. Sherk never recovered from that ruling and has gone 1-2 since.

Dunham, a newly anointed BJJ Black Belt will attempt to take Sherk to the ground early and often. This task will be easy to plan, but difficult to execute as Sherk is one of the best all-around wrestlers in the sport. Dunham’s difference is his tall frame for a 155-pounder and the fact that he has a clear advantage over Sherk on his feet. Though if this thing gets to the ground, it could be anyone’s fight. Sean Sherk is next to impossible to submit, but Dunham just has too many ways that he can craft to win this bout.

The Pick - Dunham by Unanimous Decision

Ryan Bader vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira - Ryan “Darth” Bader is the fastest rising contender in the UFC. This TUF 8 winner is still undefeated at 11-0 and is on the brink of becoming a serious threat at 205. Bader’s opponent Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will have his eyes set on continuing his torrid pace in the octagon. Nogueira now stands at 2-0 in the UFC with his most recent win coming controversially over Jason Brilz. The winner of this bout will be catapulted into the mainstream and will face Jon “Bones” Jones sometime soon.

Ryan Bader is one of the very best wrestlers in the UFC and can take any 205-pounder down in an instant. This two-time Division I athlete from Arizona St. University is now focused on becoming one of the youngest champions in UFC history.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is always a well-prepared competitor. This man holds Black Belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and will not be afraid to use them to combat Bader’s great wrestling.

The Pick - Bader by decision.

Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop - This should be a very interesting fight that many have wanted to see for quite some time but never expected to. This is a bout that pits two of the most talented heavyweights of all-time. The big, submission specialist Mir and the fleet-footed Cro Cop in the same octagon staring each other down.

Frank Mir’s career is caught between a rock and a hard place as of right now. He’s currently not considered “elite” yet is still too good to be lower on a card. Mir knows that this fight with Cro Cop could re-ignite another journey to the top. The well-rounded Mir from Las Vegas will be ready to bring it this Saturday night as he has the most to prove of anyone on the card.

Mirko Cro Cop’s career as a UFC fighter appeared to be over prior to his last fight. Cro Cop silenced the critics and probably saved his job with a gutsy performance against Pat Barry. He now reverts back to his position in main-event competition and looks to do some more damage there. For Cro Cop, “Mr. Right Kick Hospital, Left Kick Cemetery,” the stage is set to show UFC President Dana White that he can still be a major player at heavyweight.

The Pick - Mir by Submission in Rd. 2

The Kolb-Vick-Reid Triangle

Five-and-a-half months of preparation for what? That must be what’s running through the 26-year-old mind of Kevin Kolb. When the Eagles traded longtime star Donovan McNabb to Washington on Easter Sunday, the keys to the complex West Coast Offense were given to Kolb. Many believed 2010 to be a transition year and would settle for a pedestrian season with Kolb having much to learn Yet now, two weeks into the season, there is a mega controversy at QB in Philadelphia. Philadelphia? Controversy?! Nothing new.

Michael Vick now takes the reins and will be under scrutiny for his every wrongdoing in The City of Brotherly Love. Vick 2.0 comes with a two-dimensional pedigree that will help evolve the Eagles’ offense. He may be at his very best right now and looks to have matured a lot since his tenure in Atlanta. Vick will typically be the best athlete on the field at all times and is a major game-changer. He has the ability, through his skills, to make a defense’s entire game-plan change in an instant.

But this was supposed to be Kevin Kolb’s team now and in the future. Well, suddenly plans have changed and Coach Andy Reid went with the hot hand in Vick. This is unfair to Kolb though. While Reid cannot necessarily worry about sensitivity in this issue, he must do what is best for his football team first and foremost. Or as Reid himself would put it, “put the guys in position to make plays.”

Michael Vick may be the answer now, Kevin Kolb is a much better option in the future for the Eagles. A future that actually may not include Vick, Kolb or Reid much longer. The Eagles spent Wednesday afternoon fielding calls from various teams about Kolb. Vick may not want to stick around past this year if it entails being a backup since he’s clearly proved that he can still start at this level. And Reid’s clock may be ticking as well with fans growing impatient of Reid’s antics and indecisiveness. This may be Reid’s last shot to prove to the Eagle brass that he’s their best option.

Ultimately, what this comes down to is a selfish coach trying to feed his own ego. An ego that he gained through Donovan McNabb’s tenure and has since maintained in this new era of Eagles football. Kevin Kolb was robbed of the opportunity to play starting Quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles not long after he was given the privilege. Plain and simple. Though the fan base would have had to suffer while Kolb experienced a learning curve, the right move is to go back to Kolb. The problem boils down to a coach who does not have the guts to pull the trigger, or maybe he already did.

Stage is Set: Phillies Look to “CHOP” Atlanta

“The Tomahawk Chop” has become a trademark of The Atlanta Braves’ crowd in Georgia. It’s their war chant, their main source of power. Usually when this notion is referenced at Turner Field, it means the Braves are taking advantage of the home crowd. This has been a common occurrence this season with Atlanta’s league-best 52-23 home record. Now, their archrival Philadelphia Phillies are looking to do just that to the Braves over the next three days, which could eliminate them from NL East Title contention altogether.

The tide has shifted drastically over the past few weeks with the Phillies now holding a three game lead over the Braves. The Braves took over the lead on May 30th in the midst of a three-game sweep of the Phils and held it up until September 12th. Their lead was growing by the day in the middle of the season and looked to be insurmountable with little hope for a Phillie comeback this time around.

But, the Phillies were able to persevere and remain in striking distance of the Braves. Near the trade deadline they were able to acquire another ace in Roy Oswalt. In mixing Oswalt with aces Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay, the Phillies were left with a Trio of Aces and a wonky offense. Wonky though, would soon become wonderful again and hence this is where The NL East Race stands on September 20th, 2010. The Phillies have a three-game lead and will send “The BIG Three” to the hill in consecutive days at home against Atlanta, with hopes of taking their toughest NL Title to date.

This season has been anything but easy for the Phillies, with an erratic offense and injuries among other things. The offense lost sync somewhere in late May and never regained their swagger until just a few weeks ago. Sandwiched in the middle of this all were injuries to former NL MVPs Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins as well as All-Stars Chase Utley, Placido Polanco and Shane Victorino. The Phillies have now won 19 of their last 23 games albeit taking a lead in the NL East Race.

Now, with the offense ready to explode and the pitching match-ups precisely in place, the Phillies look to “chop” Bobby Cox and the Braves for the last time. Hopefully they will be able to make the season finale at Turner Field irrelevant in the process. The next three days will present the season’s biggest test for the Phillies and Braves alike, two teams that have been battle-tested all season long. I believe that whichever way this series swings will play a large role in determining the representative of the National League in The World Series.

The Phillies have faced adversity all season and somehow have the best record in the NL (nearly MLB) to show for. Adversity has been as much a part of the Phillies as their red pinstripes this season as they’ve grown as a team because of their turmoil. Charlie Manuel has stuck with his guns all season long and now it appears to be finally paying off. In many ways this has been Manuel’s greatest challenge as a manager and now he and his team are better prepared for October.

September’s “King of Swing” Ryan Howard has swatted his team back to NL supremacy. Over the last three Septembers (’07-’09) Howard has 28 HR’s with 85 RBI and a .298 batting average. With another huge September in progress, Howard is looking to ignite the Phillies into October play with great momentum in hand.

No “Answer” for Frankie Part Deux

B.J. Penn has finally met his match. “The Prodigy” has showed his age 31 heavily as of late in back-to-back losses to Frankie Edgar. That of which my friends is no fluke. Their first bout in Abu Dhabi was said by many to have been a fluke win for Edgar, yet, the 2nd time around, when he was even more dominant, people praised the smaller, faster Toms River native, recognizing him as champion. Now though, not just champion but possibly the best 155-pound fighter of the new generation. While Penn is the greatest 155-pounder of all-time, Edgar is now the best at this time and has proved himself fully.

To understand the events that have transpired over the past few months, we must revert back to August 8, 2009 at UFC 101: Declaration. B.J. Penn “finishes” Kenny “KenFlo” Florian via Rear Naked Choke in a dominating victory. Then, only a few months later, Penn annihilated Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez, opening a cut over his eye that still has yet to be sealed.

After these two decimations, Penn appeared to be the cream of the 155 crop once and for all. Then, along came Frankie Edgar. The adroit Edgar has suddenly become B.J.’s kryptonite, and new king of 155, thus leaving the aging Penn in a predicament. What exactly does he have left in the tank at this point? Better yet, if he wishes to return to elite status, what path does he take this time? Who’s next for “The Prodigy?”

More often than not a fighter of Penn’s background and caliber would make the adjustments necessary in a rematch, but this time that simply was not the case. Penn made the same mistakes in the encore, even worsening his plan. Frankie Edgar’s plan on the other hand was quite simple: run Penn ragged around the octagon for 25 minutes and use speed to keep him guessing. This worked once again, it’s no secret that Penn’s sub-par cardio has been a mounting problem for him throughout his career. Penn is now 2-5 in fights ending in decision, a fitting record considering his cardio.

Many claimed that a motivated B.J. Penn is the very best B.J. Penn, well apparently that is not true. Because quite frankly, we, along with B.J. never know which fighter will come to the arena on a given night.

An Inevitable Dream: Stanley Cup Finals 2010 Preview

Two of the NHL’s biggest American markets square off in this year’s Stanley Cup Finals, much to the liking of Commissioner Gary Bettman. Not to mention that this one should be a dandy as well. To some, this is a true David v. Goliath tilt, yet others feel as though this match-up is much closer than people think.


In one corner, the Chicago Blackhawks boast a tenacious defense, a no-name goaltender and major scoring depth. Their opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers tend to boast a tenacious defense, a no-name goaltender and major scoring depth. WOW! Sound familiar, folks? That’s right, these two squads are in fact mirror images of one another. This is what makes this series most interesting even to a neutral, casual fan.


Offense


Chicago’s depth is unprecedented with Captain Jonathan Toews and line-mate Patrick Kane leading the way. Yet, also the addition of Dustin Byfuglien to that top line has now formed the most dangerous line in the game. Byfuglien’s sudden emergence has only made Toews’ job as captain easier. “Big Buff,” as he is referred to, gets his 6’3 247 pound frame in front of the net and dominates, San Jose clearly could not stop him. Chicago has scoring depth even beyond its top line though also. Names like Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, Dave Bolland and of course Marian Hossa must be on Philadelphia’s list also as they all have high ceilings offensively.


For the Philadelphia Flyers, Captain Mike Richards must continue to lead by example as he has all throughout the playoffs thus far. Now with a full line-up, the Flyers appear to be hitting from all cylinders at the most opportune time. Newly returned Jeff Carter has to help Richards by getting open in the slot on the top line which is easier said than done against Chicago’s solid defensive corps. The Flyers must find leaks in the Blackhawks’ defensive system early and often, and with their scoring depth as well, it is possible. The reemergence of Danny Briere brings Philadelphia’s offense full circle and if certain guys (i.e. Scott Hartnell, James vanRiemsdyk, etc.) get going, it could change the series instantly.


Defense

The Blackhawks’ blue-line is nasty, there is simply no other way to put it into words. Led by fierce defender Duncan Keith, they boast a deep corps that dish out the hits. Keith, who had seven teeth knocked out in Game 4 against San Jose, is a warrior on the backline for Chicago. Brent Seabrook and young Niklas Hjalmarsson also help supply grit and discipline for Coach Joel Quenneville. The ‘Hawks also have former prized free-agent Brian Campbell, who often goes unnoticed.


The Flyers’ Chris Pronger has been a mountain of a man in terms of his play and all-around leadership. Wherever the witty Pronger goes, success seems to follow, such is also the case now in Philadelphia with the Flyers just four wins away from Lord Stanley’s Cup. Fellow veteran Kimmo Timonen has also been a force for Philadelphia offensively and defensively, he remains a quarterback on the power play, now along with Pronger. It has been clear during the post-season that Coach Peter Laviolette is heavily relying on the Flyers’ top four defenseman of Timonen, Pronger, Matt Carle and Braydon Coburn, yet Pronger mostly.


Goaltending


Annti Niemi’s emergence in net for the Blackhawks has been a godsend for them. Even though Cristobal Huet manned the net in the beginning of the year, Niemi’s time had come, as he has been the primary starter since after The Olympic Break. The important thing for him is getting off on the right foot and securing a few solid games in the early part of the series. In both rounds one and two Chicago lost Game 1 by scores of 4-1 and 5-1 to Nashville and Vancouver respectively. Niemi has made some spectacular saves in the post-season on surefire goal-scorers, yet the 26-year-old Fin is quite vulnerable at times as seen in the 2nd round against Vancouver.


Where to begin with the Philadelphia Flyers goaltending? Brian Boucher appeared to be “the guy” in net for the Flyers until an injury in Game 5 of the 2nd Round pretty much ended his run. Fortuitously, Michael Leighton had just been activated prior to Game 5 against Boston, and thus the story begins. Ever since then, Leighton has been a remarkable 6-1 with a 1.45 GAA. Mr. Waiver-Wire’s season looked to have been over on March 16th against Nashville due to an ankle injury. Remember that it was Ray Emery, returning to the NHL after an excursion to Russia’s KHL, who started the year as the Flyers’ starting goalie. Too much for ya? Well, that has just been the Flyers’ year in net, now after all that, Michael Leighton holds the reigns and looks to deliver a Stanley Cup.



Sub-Stories


O Canada - Between the two squads in the Finals there are five players that won Gold with Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics. There is a sense of camaraderie and alliance between the two teams, or at least the five players, all who play an intricate role for their respective team now in The Stanley Cup Finals.


No-Name-Nets - Annti Niemi and Michael Leighton. Long gone are the days of Glenn Hall and Bernie Parent, two men who were not just #1 on their uniforms. No one ever expected to see these two goalies in The Stanley Cup Finals, but now the stage is theirs. One of their names will be etched on Lord Stanley’s Cup forever after the conclusion of this series.

Dustin Byfuglien vs. Chris Pronger - Flyers’ Coach Peter Laviolette will hope to get his top defensemen out their against Chicago’s top line every chance he gets in this series. Though the major focus is the big roadblock of Byfuglien in front, and the tasty proposition of combating him with big Chris Pronger, the Flyers cannot lose sight of the goal. They need to hold Byfuglien afloat, not giving him a chance to get comfortable, yet also, perhaps more importantly, they must contain his line-mates Kane and Toews first. The focus must be collectively on all three players, they can all do major damage, the Flyers’ have to be looking to ultimately take this line out of their comfort zone quickly. Could the Cup possibly go through this match-up?

O Captain, My Captain - This has been a story of the two captains thus far, Jonathan Toews of Chicago and Mike Richards of Philadelphia. These two Team Canada teammates square off for the richest prize in the game. The winner of the series also could take home The Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP. These two young captains show a changing of the guard of captains with new, emerging captains taking the place of long-time veteran captains. These two teams both found their respective leaders at young ages and surrounded them with some veteran leadership along the way, they now play for The Stanley Cup. Want a blueprint on how it‘s done?

Third Time’s a Charm? - Marian Hossa has persevered through the last few seasons, somehow! In 2008, he was traded from Atlanta to Pittsburgh mid-season only to lose The Stanley Cup in 6 games to Detroit. So, why not swap teams right? Wrong. “The Marian Hossa Curse,” if you will followed him to Detroit, as now it was Pittsburgh, his old team that defeated Detroit in 7 games in 2009. But now it is 2010 and his Chicago Blackhawks are in the Stanley Cup Finals. Is there a “Marian Hossa Curse?” Only time will tell.




Prediction


The Flyers embrace the underdog role and have fought through constant adversity for two months of these playoffs. They have a big-game player in Chris Pronger who seems to have success follow him. Chicago rolled through the top-seeded Sharks en route to the Finals and look to use the home-ice advantage to their favor for a change in these playoffs (Only 5-3 at home.) Though Chicago did face tougher opponents on their way to the Finals, both teams start at 0-0 now with the first to four wins parading Lord Stanley around their city.


Chicago seemingly escaped Nashville in Round 1 to get here then struggled a bit with Vancouver before rolling over San Jose. Philadelphia, on the other hand, breezed by divisional rival New Jersey then came back from a 3-0 series then of course Game 7 deficit to a feisty Boston squad before knocking out Montreal to get to The Stanley Cup Finals. As far as I am concerned, it will take a (Matt) Stairs-ian effort if you will. In other words, a player unexpectedly coming up huge in a clutch situation. For Chicago it may be newly re-inserted Tomas Kopecky, or possibly John Madden. If a Flyer were to do so it could very well be Arron Asham, or even James vanRiemsdyk who become heroic for the rest of their days.


When all is said and done, only one team will “walk together forever.” The Philadelphia Flyers, if they can thwart Chicago’s speed and harness their aggression by staying out of the penalty box, can win this series. Chicago, on the other hand is the odds-on favorite to end their drought of 49 years. Whatever team is able to steal a game early due to a heroic effort from their net minder will emerge victorious. That being said, Michael Leighton carries the torch of Flyer net-minding right now with a heavy heart since the Brian Boucher injury, for he is receiving a once in a lifetime opportunity and has made the most of it.

The Philadelphia Flyers in 6 games in front of the home crowd on a beautiful Wednesday evening. Where will you be?

Ya Gotta Little Captain In You!

Since the Boston Bruins took a 3-0 series lead on them back on May 5th, the Philadelphia Flyers are 8-1. In other words that was the day that this team, the same inconsistent team that was on the ice for six months in the regular season, decided that the most important thing in their minds was going to be their playoff run in hopes of hoisting a shiny silver bowl in mid-June.

They say that The Stanley Cup Playoffs is a “marathon that requires a sprint,” and well, if that is the case, then Mike Richards might as well be running way ahead of the rest, baton in hand. He has been the Flyers’ best player, and could possibly win The Conn Smythe Trophy if he can squeeze out just four more victories from his resilient team.

Richards, even at the young age of 25, understands the magnitude of the situation and his position on the hockey club. He has taken charge of The Orange and Black in this playoff run with an unprecedented 21 points in 17 games. Yet, most importantly, his impact is contagious as his presence is noticed far beyond the night’s score-sheet. Night in and night out, Richards has willed his team to victory, even when it seemed impossible.

It is easy to notice that then-GM Bobby Clarke drafted Richards with the intention of eventually anointing him captain, in a way he is a Clarke continuum. Not to say Clarke molded Richards, but after all, his style of play is quite reminiscent of number 16’s. In the new wave of young captains (i.e. Richards, Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, etc.) Richards remains the quintessential team leader for The Broad St. Bullies.

It is safe to say that Mike Richards will be the captain of The Philadelphia Flyers for quite some time. A captain takes the biggest of stages and uses them as his own personal platform, if Richards continues to do that the Flyers will greet Broad St. with Lord Stanley.

A Tale of Two Series

There has been a lead and body, so now, appropriately, comes the conclusion, for one team. This series has been a constant shift in momentum and may very well have a storybook-like ending. The series or series’ that we have witnessed has been much like a Three Act Play, each set with a different tone. Ok, well maybe a little too scholastic, but there are not enough words or even time in a day to describe what has transpired over the past two weeks in this series.

Games 1-3 were series one, Boston won all three and looked to make quick work of Peter Laviolette’s injury-riddled squad. Boston played just a step above Philadelphia and it showed as their lead was consistently mounting, hence, the Flyers looked down and out.

Little did the Bruins know, Philadelphia had other plans, next came series two and the return of Simon Gagne in Game 4. Behind Gagne’s inspiring play since plus an entirely renewed sense of collective confidence, the Flyers find themselves in a decisive Game 7 on Friday night in Boston.

So now left at three victories a piece for a whole 48 hours, there are two teams going in different directions. The Flyers believe they can do this, for them the comeback is nearly complete. With just one more 100% effort for 60 minutes, they will do the unthinkable and send this wonderful city into a frenzy. To steal a line from Deb LaCava, “A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.” How true that statement is, enough said! On the other hand, the Bruins have looked like a disheveled bunch over their past three games. No matter who the goalie is for the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston players just can not find ways to light the lamp. If they are unable to figure out fill-in Michael Leighton on Friday evening, the Flyers be playing the Montreal Canadiens to determine who will play for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

After Brian Boucher’s injury in Game 5, many counted the Flyers out once again. With Michael Leighton just coming off of an injury, he couldn’t possibly carry this resilient team to three straight victories, could he? Well while that notion is not quite fulfilled yet, it is right on the doorstep. For with one dominant “Leights Out” (no pun intended) showing, this series will be over. The Flyers have so many forms of beating an opponent right now at a time in which they appear to be hitting from all cylinders. Thanks to the leadership efforts of Chris Pronger and Captain Mike Richards, along with the reemergence of Daniel Briere, this team is gelling at exactly the right time.

Tuukka Rask is the only hope that Boston has right now, in order for them to advance, he MUST steal Game 7, it has to be the best game of his season. With the offense floundering, Rask is the key now more than ever, he and Boston’s high-quality penalty kill. One thing is for sure, the Bruins’ main objective will be to hold Philly’s offense at bay as Boston cannot figure out the puzzle in front of them that is Michael Leighton. They most certainly do not want to get into a high-scoring game because Philly has far too many weapons in its arsenal, rather they must play the style that got them to the dance, their laid-back, defensive-minded brand of hockey.

Major League Baseball’s motto for the playoffs is “You Can’t Script October.” Well, maybe you can’t, but if what is occurring right now in Philadelphia could only be captured via script, it could make for the most dramatic piece of all-time. The switching of coaches mid-season, injuries in the playoffs, Ian Laperriere’s sacrifice, Gagne’s will, Leighton’s emergence, etc. This is impossible to capture, with so many emotions bottled up, this now needs closure. With victory in Game 7, the incredible comeback of the Philadelphia Flyers will be complete. The backs of the Bruins are to the wall, they will be playing with far more pressure being at home too.

The pick: Flyers 3 Bruins 1.

As Told By Our “Experts” In Bristol

The media coverage of Monday night’s sporting events by ESPN reminded me of something you would see on MSNBC or FOXNews. Their bias was obvious, their portrayal of the two cities: Boston and Philadelphia, was clearly lopsided, and quite frankly, unfair.

“The Worldwide Leader in Sports” was more so being a follower in this instance. They were playing into the footsteps of other sports networks in their coverage of the games and it exploited Philadelphians, portraying them in a most negative light.

As the entire world knows by now, some punk 17-year-old, Steve Consalvi (from Berks County nonetheless) ran onto the field in Monday’s game at Citizens Bank Park and was brought down via taser gun. Classic, right? Well, not so much, whether it’s throwing snowballs at Santa Claus, (which still has not been forgotten 40 years later) or throwing D-cell batteries at J.D. Drew, Philadelphia fans always seem to be victimized by, well, pretty much all of society, thanks to a select few. Though I, personally do not condone what these people did, they are miniscule on the scale of passion that the “true” fans bring all across this great city, and that is a fact. Never anywhere else will you see last place teams consistently sell-out games all season long (Eagles in late-’90s, Flyers in ‘06-07.)

In watching ESPN, I was quite disappointed, not to mention with both the Flyers and Phillies losing, it was already a not-so-good night to begin with for many across the Delaware Valley. I get the ESPNBoston, ESPNDallas, ESPNNewYork, ESPNChicago, ESPNLosAngeles thing, but why go so over the top on this matter?

It was a great night for Boston sports with the Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox all winning, and I can respect that, but not the way it was portrayed by ESPN. They praised their victories so much that they forgot to even mention just about anything else. There was a real visual bias in that entire segment in my mind.

Philadelphia was portrayed as losers, cry babies, cheaters, and degenerates, which is stereotypical to a tee. When Philadelphia teams made the highlight reel, it was for just two reasons. One being the obvious, the tased fan, or should I say, fool that ran onto the field, to be honest the kid got what he deserved. He’s lucky the mayor’s name is Nutter and not Rizzo. The 2nd reason was for Philadelphia’s top goon, Daniel Carcillo, who did indeed act on an early Boston penalty call, then later, in a scrum, claimed to have gotten bit by Marc Savard. ESPN clearly goofed here as far as I am concerned. Reminiscent of coverage in the ’08 Election, but we won’t go there.

Anyway, Philadelphia is a wonderful city, and by no means should play second fiddle to cocky Bostonians in anything. Who knows many may feel as though I am being biased in my writing this piece, but to be honest, I am not. I am just simply stating and reacting upon what I saw. Just sayin’.

Eastern Conference Playoff Picks

4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 8 Montreal Canadiens

Pittsburgh possesses the rights to the best player in the game today. Sidney Crosby, when the games matter most, is better than all others, including Alexander Ovechkin. Surrounded by other talent such as, but not limited to, Evgeni Malkin, veteran Bill Guerin and all-around defenseman Sergei Gonchar, Crosby steers the direction of the Pens, who are on a quest for a 3rd straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Yet, if there has ever been a time when the Pens are most vulnerable, it is indeed now. The reason is mainly due to Marc Andre Fleury, who has not been the same goaltender since the Olympics.

Montreal comes in riding a major wave of confidence led by Jaroslav Halak. It appears that former #1 pick Carey Price has been smitten from “Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge“ (The Blue-White-Red) territory. In three! elimination games in Round 1, Halak stood on his head, stopping 130 of the 133 shots that he faced. General Manager Bob Gainey really changed the make-up of this team and it now appears to be paying off big-time. In losing Saku Koivu and Alexei Kovalev, they gained Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez and Michael Cammalleri. Also, expect highly-touted rookie P.K. Subban to play a very intricate role in this series for Montreal. Halak MUST steal one of the first two in “The Steel City” to give Montreal a chance.

This series will come down to special teams in the end. Montreal’s P.K. (no, not Subban this time) was able to thwart the Washington “Ovechkins” top power play attack with a 97% kill rate. In the process, they left Washington with just one goal in 33 opportunities, a staggering 3%. Pittsburgh, though, boasts a fantastic power play with Malkin, Crosby and Sergei Gonchar leading the way.

Fleury needs to be very good in this series, significantly better than he was against Ottawa. He has been both their biggest x-factor and question mark at the same time as of late. As good as he was in the past two playoff runs, this season, he may be holding the defending champs back. Regardless, the Cup still runs through Pittsburgh, carried as a burden by superstar Sidney Crosby.

The intangibles and post-season discipline are there for Pittsburgh, which could carry them to a 3rd consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Pittsburgh will not roll over Montreal, they may even struggle at times in this series, but this will not stop them from advancing, ultimately, Montreal does not have enough firepower to stop Crosby, Malkin and co. Pens in 6.

6. Boston Bruins vs. 7. Philadelphia Flyers

Brian Boucher was the star performer of the 1st Round, continuously halting New Jersey power plays and keeping them afloat. Now Boucher and coach Peter Laviolette, both New Englanders, are in for a homecoming of sorts in Round 2. The Boston Bruins, the most unlikely of opponents, will welcome Philly into Bah-ston on Saturday afternoon for a Winter Classic rematch.

The return of Marc Savard will give the Bruins a boost ahead of the injury-riddled Flyers in the early going as they will play off of his emotion. The leading goal-scorer of the league’s 30th ranked offensive team, will help drastically against high-scoring Philadelphia. Though they do not have a powerful offense by any means, they do have depth, with eight double digit scorers. In addition to Savard, the emergence of net-minder Tuukka Rask in place of last year’s Vezina Trophy Winner Tim Thomas has helped fuel Boston all season long. Rask, a relative unknown, has been a rock in Boston’s net and now the rookie carries his squad into Round 2.

Without Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne and Ian Lapperriere, the Flyers will struggle in various departments, or at least be looking for upgrades and fill-ins. Players like Danny Briere, Claude Giroux, James Van Riemsdyk and Darrell Powe will be expected to step up immensely. In the penalty-killing, face-off and two-way portions of the game, the Flyers will need to step up as a team in the absences of three of their top players. Yet, with Kimmo Timonen and Chris Pronger healthy, the Flyers will surely be a force on the back line. Pronger is indeed Philadelphia’s Kepha (rock) and has been since his signing, playing in all 88 games to date. Though, when the games are most important, Pronger really shines, these are the types of games in which he logs minutes into the 30s on a consistent basis.

Special teams and goaltending will be crucial here. Boston was perfect on the penalty kill in Round 1 against Buffalo, and Tuukka Rask was a major reason for that. Brian Boucher dominated New Jersey in Round 1 as well, and was able to disrupt their momentum constantly both at even strength and on the man advantage. Quarterbacked primarily by Timonen, yet, led by Pronger and Richards, Philadelphia’s Power Play is one of the best in the game. Boston though will present a challenge with its 3rd ranked PK and can take advantage of Philly‘s injuries.

In the end, a physical series will have been played with a tug-of-war-like momentum shift constantly. The team that ends it strongly will ultimately be the victor. Philadelphia is geared for a long, hard, physically enduring series, even with its injuries. Boston also is very physical and will test Philadelphia mentally in this series, it should be a dandy. The winner must beat their opponent into submission, look out folks, this one could get nasty. Flyers in 7.

Western Conference Playoff Picks

1. San Jose Sharks vs. 5. Detroit Red Wings

This may have been just the match-up that Mike Babcock and co. were looking for in Round 2. Detroit has had San Jose’s number for quite some time and looks to continue their dominance. Jimmy Howard was solid in Round 1, and now has one playoff series victory in his arsenal after a great seven game set with Phoenix. Howard, one of the top rookies in the game, was battle-tested but withstood and now carries Detroit into a new series, this one against a team that has been a regular-season monster over the past few seasons. Though, when it truly matters in the POST-season, Detroit is indeed a force.

Pavel Datsyuk, is one of the most unselfish players in the game, and did I also mention one of the very best. Datsyuk is so explosive, often times he alone can and will carry the team’s play, he has that type of ability on both offense and defense. Paired with Henrik Zetterberg, Datsyuk becomes even more of a force, together the “European Connection,” if you will, is fearsome. They are one of the league’s top scoring duos and lead one of the deepest teams in the league. Detroit will need them both healthy and in full force if they are going to defeat a likewise deep San Jose team. Not to mention that their Swedish Captain Nicklas Lidstrom is one of the greatest players to ever lace a pair of skates. Just to add that in there.

Big Joe, Little Joe, will not be a “Cup o’ Joe” for the Red Wings by any means. Though Big Joe Thornton often can be found at the bottom of any score sheet once spring time hits, when he wants, he can be a major threat for any team. Who knows, maybe he just simply does not want to in the playoffs? Fact is, Thornton has failed epically throughout his playoff career. Little Joe Pavelski, along with Ryan Clowe have undoubtedly been the unsung heroes of a Sharks squad that eked by a valiant effort from a tenacious Colorado Avalanche team. Patrick Marleu continues to amaze and be the cog in the Sharks’ tank. While this year he had a breakout year with 44 goals, we have seen in the past that his effects on this team go far beyond the score-sheet. He has been the most steady player that the organization has ever seen and continues to fuel them.

Goaltending will be the biggest factor in this series. Detroit’s 24-year-old stud Jimmy Howard appears ready to answer the call as the games increase in importance. Evegeni Nabokov is one of the best goalies around and with a wealth of talent in front of him, his job is made easier, except of course when Dan Boyle decides to lob one into his own net. But aside from that Nabokov has a better defensive support system around him than Howard and also has the experience factor. Whichever goalie is able to capitalize and make the most off of his team’s offense and in some cases, out-duel his counterpart will send his team to the Western Conference Finals. In the end, the rookie Jimmy Howard is surrounded by too much Detroit firepower to go down here, this resilient squad keeps on rolling. Red Wings in 6.

2. Chicago Blackhawks vs. 3. Vancouver Canucks

Guided by the likes of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, Chicago was able to tiptoe around a nasty Nashville team in Round 1. These are guys that you build a franchise around, and in doing so, Chicago has improved steadily ever since. This is a very engaging series that should be very physical and can come down to a Game 7. Last season, when these teams met it was a series that kindled a rivalry, one that apparently will be continued when this series opens on Friday night in Chicago. It is pretty safe to say that these squads do not like each other one bit. This seems like the one series that everyone is anticipating most, hopefully it will fulfill the hype.

Vancouver’s Captain…Roberto Luongo? Yes you heard it right, Goaltender Roberto Luongo, the captain of the Canucks is the most valuable player in this series. In order for the Canucks to prevail, he must come up huge and will need to steal at least one game. He really did not look that good against the L.A. Kings with a GAA near 3.00. Some may argue that he was hurt in Game 5, but even so, Luongo is a much better goalie than he showed in that opening round. Luongo must be ready because chances are Chicago’s offense will come out to play in this round more so than against Nashville. The captain must prove that his Canucks are battle-ready in what should be yet another physical altercation with a nasty, intimidating Blackhawk bunch.

Annti Niemi must be solid once again to carry his team passed the more experienced Canucks. Much like Brian Boucher vs. Martin Broduer in Round 1, Niemi does not necessarily have to out-duel/outplay Luongo four times, (even though Boucher did) he just needs to make key stops and put his team in prime position for the victory. At least one luxury for Coach Joel Quennville is that in case of emergency, he always has Cristobal Huet, the primary starter during the regular season, on the bench in a baseball cap. That works to his advantage if need be. Chicago can be a very intimidating place for any visitor, so expect the crowd to play a role in this series, especially with the start coming in The Windy City.

The injury to Brian Campbell does hurt and it showed against Nashville as they sometimes were able to exploit the Chicago defense. But with their scoring depth (11 double-digit goal scorers) and physicality they can put themselves in a position to win just about any series. One thing is for certain, these ARE your grandfather’s Blackhawks! They play with excitement, scoring and physicality, much like the Blackhawks of old. If Chicago is able to keep The Brothers Sedin off the score-sheet consistently, this series will be shorter than expected, but that will be very difficult. Blackhawks in 7 epic games.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2010 Draft Review

The Philadelphia Eagles, if nothing else, were certainly the league’s most active team over the weekend during The NFL Draft. Trading down was a common theme for the team in midnight green over the 3-day period that was The NFL Draft. All in all though, they selected 13 players (primarily on defense) that will start mini-camp very soon. They were in prime position to pounce on some fantastic talent that littered the seven rounds of this draft, and in knowing their needs they did just that. The draft is often won/lost in the later rounds, well if so, the Eagles appear to have acquired some steals in Day 3.

1. Brandon Graham - It came as no surprise when the Eagles moved up 11 spots in The NFL Draft’s 1st round on Thursday night. Yet, their decision after that in not drafting Texas Safety Earl Thomas was a shock. The stars had seemed to have aligned for the Eagles to take Thomas, one of the draft’s top players. Instead, they traded up for an undersized, speedy Michigan lineman in Brandon Graham. General Manager Howie Roseman and co. are banking on Graham as the perfect compliment to Trent Cole, as now they have two d-ends that teams will need to game-plan for individually. Graham, a “high motor“ guy needs to be able to pose a threat for opposing teams the same way that Cole does. If so, these two will be a fearsome duo for Philly up front. Sean McDermott, a Jim Johnson disciple, is salivating at his new defense, that is for certain.

2. Nate Allen (The Donovan McNabb Pick) - This had to be a pretty safe, logical choice for the Birds after passing up on Thomas. With this pick they were still able to fill a major void early on in the draft. Allen though, from a small school (USF) and not on the level of either Eric Berry or Thomas, can definitely make an immediate impact in a fading secondary. The sect of the defense that was a primary concern for the Eagles was shed light upon with this pick, Allen was too talented to pass up on in round two. He will be able to contribute on special teams and should compete with Quintin Demps, Victor “Macho” Harris and newcomer Marlin Jackson for the starting free safety job. This is a position that Brian Dawkins vacated and probably will never be able to be filled quite like it was from 1996-2008 by #20.

3. Daniel Te’o-Nesheim - Another defensive end selected with pick three, though Te’o-Nesheim was mid-range on Philly’s radar. Te’o-Nesheim, also a “high motor” athlete (freak athlete from what I hear) may have been a reach here, but the Eagles knew what they were doing when they chose him. Again, there seems to be a shift in drafting preference from the Eagles’ brass as opposed to in the past. Rebuilding the defense was the focus in 2010 through the draft for Philly, this was the first time in a long time that this has occurred. With deep talent in this draft, the Eagles, like many squads, were able to fill holes every, particularly on defense. Te’o-Nesheim, who will be forever known as the “ceiling starer,” appears to fit into McDermott’s defensive scheme and could also make an initial impact.

4. Trevard Lindley - The Eagles are pretty thin at corner even with Asante Samuel leading the way. His poor tackling and distrust in Philly’s brass could hurt his stock in the long run, not saying he will be moved, but quite frankly, you never know. Lindley, an SEC guy from Kentucky, seems like a clone of Samuel in his assets and detriments alike. The Eagles must have seen something in the injury-prone corner that was appealing. Many just simply do not see it in Lindley particularly, yet, regardless they were able to plug another hole here midway through the weekend.

5. Keenan Clayton - Little is known about this linebacker, a position that the Eagles could have filled a bit earlier in the draft mind you. One thing that is for sure was that Oklahoma had the power in this draft as Bob Stoops had seven players taken overall, and three of the first four on Thursday evening. This was a team that went 8-5 in 2009, much of which can be attributed to injuries. Clayton, yet another small athlete that the Eagles select, could also be an impact special-teams player.

6. Mike Kafka - Similar to starter Kevin Kolb, Kafka has good football sense and thinks the game through well out of its most important position. Although he threw more interceptions (20) than touchdowns (19) in his collegiate career, (only season as starter might I add) this appears to be a necessary gamble for Andy Reid. In obtaining Michael Vick, the depth chart looks to be Kolb-Vick-Kafka, in that order as Kafka has a lot to learn about playing the Quarterback position. Kafka, who once threw for 78! passes in ONE game (Outback Bowl vs. Auburn) is a decent pick-up at a position of need. Check out his stats from that Outback Bowl game. WOW!

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=300010002

7. Clay Harbor - This blocking tight end from small school Missouri St. could be an insurance policy for Cornelius Ingram from last year’s draft. He could be used as a hybrid athlete playing both the tight end and fullback positions. Impressively, Harbor had at least one reception in each of his 36 games in college. Another freak athlete for the Birds, adding another weapon to a young, action-packed offense.

8. Ricky Sapp - Sapp may very well be “the steal” of this year’s draft. This guy is a first-round quality talent and barring injuries, he, instead of Graham may have been drafted 13th overall on Thursday evening. Though scouting reports have claimed that his work ethic is not what it should be for a player of his caliber, if he plays up to his potential, Sapp could be a major player for this rebuilding defense. Sapp, Graham and Cole will be a force on the ends for years to come in this city and could help bring back a fearsome Eagle D.

9. Riley Cooper - First thing that comes to mind, what an athlete! To have been drafted in baseball twice, (by the Phillies and Rangers) have two National Championships and now be drafted in the NFL all at the age of 22 is one hell of an accomplishment. Cooper, with his 6-4 frame, could be the red-zone, jump-ball threat that the Eagles have envied for a very long time.

10. Charles Scott - Yet another SEC talent, after all, no one makes ‘em like the SEC right? Scott should compliment LeSean McCoy well, he who now carries the workload for Philly. Scott may also be the short-yardage back that the Eagles have longed since, well….FOREVER! Not only is he physical and stocky at 5’11-253, but he also hits the hole very hard and runs it right up the middle. Does not sound like your typical Eagle draftee, but mark my words, his immediate impact will help fuel this offense.

11. Jamar Chaney - Chaney ran the best 40-yard dash of all linebackers at the Combine. He could be a guy that may not even make the team when it is all said and done to be honest. It is not discussed much right after the draft, but cuts to rookies do occur and most likely in this case will with Chaney.

12. Jeff Owens - Coming off of an injury from 2008 Owens is expected to help clog the middle for the Eagle defense in the near future. He is the fourth SEC guy in a row drafted by the Birds, fifth altogether, WOW! He will fit into the Eagles’ rotation very well and can be a beneficial to Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson up the middle. First Te’o (T.O.) and now Owens (Jeff) what’s this world coming to people.

13. Kurt Coleman - He is not expected to make the team, and if he does it will be in a role far far away. Special Teams ought to be his niche in the NFL, if nothing else.

Psychological Game Rules!

The Philadelphia Flyers, with just two more victories, will seemingly beat the New Jersey Devils at their own brand of hockey. INTIMIDATION!

Brian Boucher has been solid thus far; he has made fewer mistakes than the immortal Martin Brodeur, which is why his team in in this position. If they apply pressure on the Devils for just two more hours of game time (120 minutes) they will find themselves in round number two, facing another top seed. While Brodeur has kept N.J.’s ship sailing as usual, he is more human now than in the past. Maybe after one and a half decades, the Flyers have finally figured out the 37 year-old Devil net minder.

The Flyers have the clear psychological edge in this series right now. This was vividly established in Game 1 and has remained so throughout. They are no longer intimidated by New Jersey and its trap defense, yet now it appears as if the Flyers are the intimidator in this series. They have been able to put a damper on New Jersey’s system of play, thwarting any changes in momentum.

Philadelphia has been able to institute such a great sense of fear and doubt into the New Jersey locker room to the point where Jacques Lamaire’s crew knows they cannot defeat their divisional foe in this best-of-seven set. The intimidation factor could ultimately decide this series as the Flyers have been, as their slogan states, “relentless” in these first three games.

Kimmo Timonen and Chris Pronger have each played intricate roles in this series. They have continuously shutdown Lou Lamoriello’s top rent-a-player in sniper Ilya Kovalchuk. They managed to hold the trio of Patrick Elias, Zach Parise and Kovalchuk to just 3! shots in 68:22 of ice-time. If this keeps up, the Flyers should be able to put this series away relatively soon. Yet, offense is not what Jersey is notorious for, nor has it been the driving force behind three cups. The main asset over the past 15

years of N.J. dominance has been its goaltender Martin Brodeur of course.

Brodeur has started 70+ games twelve times in his career. He is very durable, but many wonder if his reign is coming to an end. The Jersey netminder is no longer complacent and is now more vulnerable than ever before. The Devils’ capabilities begin and end with Brodeur as he will continue to be the catalyst, but for how long? The Flyers have appeared to figure out his weaknesses and are exploiting them, hence their 2-1 series lead.

This series will be continued on Tuesday evening in Philadelphia in front of a raucous crowd. A pivotal Game 4 in which yours truly will be attending. Trying to be objective, but I have hated this team for as long as I can remember, so that being said, LET'S GO FLYERS!

Eastern Conference Playoff Picks

1. Washington Capitals vs. 8. Montreal Canadiens

In an unfortunate turn of events, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves facing Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in round 1. Due to a late push from the 7th seeded Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal was forced into facing the Presidents’ Trophy winners.

Led of course by Alexander Ovechkin, Washington dominated the league in the 2009-2010 season. Suspecting many to believe that this is indeed the team of the new decade. They have some of the best scoring depth and balance in the league and they are not just a one-man show anymore.

Mike Green also has been a force on the blueline throughout his young career and often jumps in on the offense as well. It appears now as if all of their talent will hit their primes in unison. The only question mark could be where it matters most actually, in the between the pipes. Jose Theodore will start the series for Bruce Boudreau, but who is to say that Semyon Varlamov will not finish (as it occurred last season against the New York Rangers in game 1.) Yet, there is much more riding on this season for an emotionally-charged Theodore who lost his infant son in the off-season.

Montreal is riding the wave of a hot net minder right now and surprisingly enough, his name is not Carey Price. Jaroslav Halak has been the best goalie down the stretch and if he continues to do so, Montreal may challenge Washington. While it will take far more than this to put their backs-to-the-wall, anything is possible when a goalie is playing out of his mind like Halak is currently. Montreal has scoring depth, and will need a lot of it to win this series. Their main aspects will be Halak and a shutdown defense in front of him because quite frankly, there is no reason to get into a high-scoring affair with Washington.

The first 2 games of the series will be rather telling. Washington boasts the league’s best home record. If Montreal can halt Washington at home, they immediately boost their chances of taking the series. This though is easier said than done as the Caps have lost only 11 games at The MCI Center this season. Caps in 6.

2. New Jersey Devils vs. 7. Philadelphia Flyers

This could very well be the best series of the 1st round of play. Brian Boucher is the key to this entire series. He does not necessarily need to steal games or even outplay Martin Brodeur (we are not holding our breath waiting to see that.) He just has to make key saves when they count and be steady all the way around for Philadelphia. And for those that do not recognize the head-to-head stats are foolish. Trust me!

Once he arrived in Philadelphia, Head Coach Peter Laviolette’s plan was put into place to make teams like New Jersey second guess their blueprint. Laviolette has out-coached Jacques Lemaire, hell, I’ll go as far as to say that his team has outworked the Devils this season. Laviolette has the “system” guys that are playoff-built and can pass the test that the trap defense presents.

Chris Pronger is a major player for Philadelphia. While he may not always be able to oppose Devil sniper Ilya Kovalchuk, he can make his shifts miserable when they do match up. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards need to be the leaders that will push their club into The Eastern Conference Semifinals. Yet, keep in mind that Jersey is not thin on leadership by any means.

This will be an interestingly, physically draining best-of-seven set with the winner being the squad that makes fewer mistakes. Philadelphia may have actually engraved fear/doubt into the 20 heads of the New Jersey locker room. If the Flyers are able to apply the psychological game to the series, it will be an obvious swing their way. For the first time in a long time, maybe (EVER!) facing New Jersey is not a nightmare for the Broad St. Bullies.

New Jersey plays a very disciplined system while the Flyers play quite physical and often take boneheaded, uncharacteristic penalties. Welcome Scott Hartnell! Even though New Jersey’s Power Play has not been a threat, there is no reason to give them a chance with a man advantage. Flyers in 6.

3. Buffalo Sabres vs. 6 Boston Bruins

Ryan Miller can steal games during this time of year and may have to against divisional rival Boston. Opposing Miller will be Finnish sensation Tuuka Rask, the league leader in Goals Against Average and Save Percentage. Miller, the goalie who lead Team U.S.A. to within one shot of an Olympic Gold, has been the NHL’s best this season. Miller should finally be able to claim the Vezina Trophy as his own this season (crazy to think that Tim Thomas, now Boston‘s backup took home that piece of hardware last season.)

Buffalo is a team with much offensive weaponry that should have the firepower to make some noise in the playoffs this time around. Their leading scorer Derek Roy has evolved over the past few years into a formidable option as an offensive threat. While Buffalo has not fully recovered over losing co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere a few summers ago, they are back playing post-season hockey thanks to Miller’s play.

The Bruins are a team that has been trying to form its own identity all along. They do not have the scoring to contend with many teams in the league, but they will stay with Buffalo thanks to Rask and their tenacious defense. They are not naïve enough to think that they can score with other teams, so it is no longer a part of their gameplan. Their defense is sufficient enough for them and could possibly win them a series.

This would most likely work against anybody but Miller. Many may not believe this but this may be an epic series and a defensive struggle for seven games. It should be thisclose and if Rask is willing to go shot-for-shot with Miller, it very well could be just thatclose. Sabres in 7.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators

Pittsburgh’s two missiles are locked, loaded and ready to launch at any time. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, fresh off of a Stanley Cup title, are two of the best players in the league and once again, the Pens go as far as this terrific duo leads them. While they were not quite as dominant as they were a season ago, they remain a force to be reckoned with in a wide open East. Now they face a 1st round test with an Ottawa Senator team that is thin on depth, yet play well together as a unit.

Ottawa continues to be engineered by Captain Daniel Alfredsson, one of the best leaders in the sport. But if they are going to succeed in this series, they are going to need Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek to step up greatly, especially in the absence of the well-seasoned Russian Alexei Kovalev. Mike Fisher remains one of the top grinders in the game and now is the Sens’ leading goal-scorer as well. Mr. Carrie Underwood (Fisher) must continue to add to his career year.

Marc Andre Fleury, he who has not been the same since the Olympics, must return to his past playoff forms if Pittsburgh is going to return to the Finals for a 3rd consecutive time. Brian Elliott, not the Sens’ offense could be the beneficiary of Fleury’s troubles in this series. The emergent Elliott does not need to steal games in this series, rather his being able to be more steady and consistent than Fleury ought to be sufficient enough.

Then, on second thought, the Sens will need a lot to contain the Pens’ explosive offense, not just Malkin and Crosby. Pittsburgh’s machine is among the best in the league around this time of year and they will not be stopped, their depth is unsurpassed as they boast numerous scoring lines. This series will be determined by which goaltender falters ultimately since Fleury’s poor play as of late, but even so, Pittsburgh’s firepower will be too much in the end. Pens in 6.

Western Conference Playoff Picks

1. San Jose Sharks vs. 8. Colorado Avalanche

Same scenario, yet hopefully a much different outcome for a very deep San Jose team. They faced a rather embarrassing 1st round exit at the hands of a California rival, The Anaheim Ducks. Not much has changed as now a young Avalanche squad comes in hungry along with a nothing-to-lose approach.

Colorado suddenly found itself in 8th place in what was possibly the deepest Western Conference race EVER (7 of the 8 playoff teams had 100+ points)! A young Colorado team that is on the rise awaits San Jose in round 1. The Avs were near the top of the West early on in the season, but were in freefall during the 2nd half and found themselves clinging to an 8th seed as of late.

It has been a changing of the guard for Colorado with new names like Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene and Chris Stewart replacing the likes of Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Rob Blake. All in all, this was a huge turnaround for a team that finished last season in dead last in the West.

San Jose has also been able to spread its depth. With Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleu and Dany Heatley leading the way, the Sharks have to like their chances against a wily Colorado team that may be too young to realize the magnitude of the situation

This series will be won/lost where it counts, in the intangibles and coaching. Expect Special Teams to also play a major role in the outcome of this series. Ultimately, San Jose’s advantage in that particular department could be intricate when every game counts in April. Nabokov can steal a game himself, yet will not even have to do so.

These two teams split their season series and look to provide a rather entertaining 1-8 pairing for West Coast fans. San Jose will be a bit too much this season for their 8th seed opponent, they can not possibly get caught off guard again. Sharks in 6.

2. Chicago Blackhawks vs. 7. Nashville Predators

A 47-win team has reached the playoffs in the 7th spot under perennial Coach of The Year candidate Barry Trotz. This unselfish team is very talented and get it done year in and year out. Nashville spreads its scoring wealth around and with great balance they can actually give Chicago a series to ponder.

Chicago is a very intimidating team that is supported by a rabid fan base. The youth have taken control of the Blackhawks and have them heading back to the top. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews alone will deliver Cups to “The Windy City.” Their goaltender Antti Niemi has been a stonewall in Chicago’s net. Yet many have criticized their goaltending situation with Niemi and Cristobal Huet sharing time.

This will be a tighter series than many think with Nashville being a team that can potentially figure out and maybe even thwart Chicago’s gameplan. That being said, Nashville may frustrate Chicago to a certain extent, but do not expect much more than that as they are highly overmatched in this series.

These two squads boast top-flight blue-lines in the rugged Western Conference. Led by names like Duncan Keith, Brian Campbell and Shea Weber, each team has been able to shutdown top offenses all season long.

Chicago is built to win in the playoffs and set a franchise-record with 52 wins in the regular season. In fact, they are a team that will enjoy much success in the future as well, let the future begin now because this team is ready to take the next step. Blackhawks in 5.

3. Vancouver Canucks vs. 6. Los Angeles Kings

Roberto Luongo gives Vancouver an obvious edge in this series on paper. Though, the youthful Kings do not play on paper, they actually tend to thrive off of their inexperience in a sense and use their speed as a major asset.

There is an underlying balance in the L.A. arsenal that needs to break free if they are to advance against the battle-ready Canucks. The Brothers Sedin head a laundry list of scorers for the Canucks as they boast six 25-goal scorers. Do not underestimate the Kings though who had 11(!) 10 goal scorers this season. This should be a very intriguing match-up that is certainly favorable for each team.

The Anze Kopitar-led Kings have the correct formula to surprise in the playoffs and have given critics reason to believe that they will be in the playoff picture for years to come. Jonathan Quick’s emergence in goal was key to the turnaround. Also, the fact that a kid named Drew Doughty, currently 20 years of age, will lead his team in ice time once again and will be a Norris Trophy candidate this season.

Vancouver seems like the pick in this series on paper, but what is not to like about L.A. This will be tough to decide on and will be an absolute seesaw series that should be the best of the West. Both teams are hungry and are looking to solidify their spot among the elite. They may have to nearly dismantle each other to do so, but the end result will be as it was intended. Expect many close games in this back-and-forth series that will be quite interesting. Kings in 7.

4. Phoenix Coyotes vs. 5. Detroit Red Wings

This is a match-up that may turn a few heads as it will likely need a full slate of 7 games to decide as well. Phoenix, one of the better teams in the West all season long, has also been able to use its youth to its advantage, yet that concept is immediately abolished in drawing an opponent as deep and playoff-ready as Detroit.

Despite their losing 307 man games to injury, Detroit remained poised all season, knowing that if they got into the playoffs, they would be a threat to any opponent, especially a young team like Phoenix. Their depth carries on past their top lines and goes all throughout. Detroit has been the deepest team in the NHL for quite some time and even with injury, that does not change as talent can be replaced.

Detroit has the clear advantage on special teams, while PK is virtually identical, Detroit has a major advantage with the PP, which could ultimately help determine this series. Also add in that Detroit was the hottest team in the league after an Olympic Break which saw Coach Mike Babcock lead Team Canada to a Gold Medal.

Phoenix is also a very deep team that misses Scottie Upshall’s offensive presence. With other significant depth at both ends of the ice, the Coyotes actually could make a push in the West. That would be if they did not draw Detroit in round 1 of course. Their inability to score goals will hurt them in the long run, but remember this, Ilya Bryzgalov will not be the reason for a 1st round exit.

Being led by Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and Jimmy Howard among numerous others, there is no shortage of talent by any means in HockeyTown, U.S.A. Once again, this time though as a low seed, Detroit is expected to win in these spring months. Not much should change again this year with a deeper, far more experienced Red Wing team will take this series. Not all things are easy though, especially with a feisty opponent such as Phoenix. Red Wings in 7.

Amaro's Deal Comes Full Circle: Halladay Shines, So Does President Obama (Well, Sort Of)

Ruben Amaro Jr. seemingly traded away four prospects last summer for “Plan B.” As far as I was concerned, “Plan B,” a.k.a. the services of Clifton Phifer Lee, was not necessarily a bad thing for a team looking to repeat as World Champions. Considering that we had dealt four UNproven prospects that would suit another team better anyway, Amaro Jr., once again came out looking like a genius. Philadelphia Phillies fans and the baseball world alike would soon learn that this form of “highway robbery” was only the beginning for Amaro Jr. on his way to the top. He may not be the best General Manager in the league just yet, but he damn sure is the ballsiest. At this point some are probably still asking what exactly “Plan A” was and why Amaro settled for Lee. Well, you are about to get your July memory refreshed, so fast-forward ahead to nine days before Christmas Day 2009; December 16, 2009, that day truly was Christmas for a Philadelphian.

On December 16, 2009, Philadelphia received its ace in the form of Roy Halladay. Amaro Jr. was finally able to pry his original “Plan A” away from the Toronto Blue Jays. Not that he was not content with Lee, the man who had dominated his way through October and into November, but for the betterment of the franchise, while the window was still open, Amaro Jr. was able to shoot right through the ceiling and shatter the glass. Another handful of prospects were lost, and also “Plan B,” but this time Amaro Jr. was able to achieve his goal and lock up his top priority through 2013 with a vesting option for 2014.

Plans A & B have now come full circle as the 2010 season commences. Roy Halladay is now 1-0 for the Philadelphia Phillies, while Cliff Lee is on the DL in Seattle, yet, once he is healthy, he should form a powerful 1-2 punch with “King” Felix Hernandez in the AL West. While the Phillies appear to have “Plan A-Team” in place with both Halladay and Cole Hamels. Much of which of course is contingent on Hamels and his hopes of a rebound campaign in 2010.

Well, Roy Halladay got his work done yesterday and came as advertised in an 11-1 romping of the lowly Washington Nationals. The Nats hit Halladay a tad in the early going, but one thing appears to be for certain as far as that sentiment goes, Halladay is better when he’s bad. At any point in the early going that the Nats felt a surge coming on, Halladay was quick to snuff it out. His power pitching prowess may be better than advertised, quite frankly, I am not so sure that Phillies fans knew just what they were getting.

The highlight, or lowlight of the day (whichever you prefer) for the Nats may have actually been the first pitch by President Barack Obama. Not only did he have the willpower to throw an absolutely awful pitch, but at the same time, had the decency to sling on a Chicago White Sox cap on to boot. Credit Ryan Zimmerman with the grab, yet that was one of the better pitches thrown from anyone donning Nats paraphernalia. At least that pitch would not have allowed for Ryan Howard to hit a bomb as he did off of a hanging John Lannan curveball in the 4th, instead it would have clunked the big lefthander in the head.