2009 NHL PLAYOFFS EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS (4) PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (5)

This series between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins has got to be the most intriguing and the hardest to predict a series winner. Both of these teams are evenly matched, and it looks certain that this series will go the distance to seven games.

There are also plenty of ups and downs between these two squads. First, the Flyers have plenty of scoring threats with two to three lines that can score. The Flyers had six players finish with 25 or more goals. As for the Penguins, they did have two of the top three scorers overall in the NHL with Evgeni Malkin, first with 113 points and Sidney Crosby, third with 103 points. After Malkin and Crosby, there is a huge drop in scoring, and the next best player is Chris Kunitz with 53 points. The Penguins did have 13 players finish with ten or more goals. So, the Penguins have a spread out balance of attack, whereas with the Flyers there is a fine line in players who can score and cannot score.

In the goaltending department, the Flyers saw that Martin Biron could handle the pressures and goaltending duties and led the Flyers to the East final versus these same Penguins. But, Biron didn’t even win thirty games this year. Pittsburgh’s starter, Marc-Andre Fleury had 35 wins, and showed he is a strong goaltender.

Here’s where both teams are dead even, goals for, 264. Defensively, the Flyers have given up 238 goals, while the Penguins gave up 239. In wins, the Penguins went one up with 45.

The path to the playoffs, were totally different for both sides. The Flyers started the season strong and ended it that way. The Penguins got off to a slow start, fired their coach Michel Therrien, and replaced him with Dan Bylsma. With that, the Penguins went on an amazing roll, where they lost just seven games, and beat out the Flyers for home ice advantage.

With that, the Penguins are surely the favorites with home ice advantage. This series is too good not to go to a seventh game. Defense will take a back seat in this series, because the offensive firepower is evident on both sides. More so, on the Flyers’ side because they have more snipers. Even though the Penguins have 13 players with ten or more goals, some of those players can be stopped.

Defensively, both teams once again matched up evenly, but the Flyers have more puck moving defensemen, with scoring flair. The Penguins have defensemen who can also score, but they play more of a finesse game. As for physicality, the Flyers easily win that battle because the Penguins weren’t known for hitting this season.

Goaltending, which is the backbone to every team in the NHL, the success to winning games, is on the Penguins’ side. Fleury was stellar in last seasons Stanley Cup Final run, but the Detroit Red Wings were just too much. Still, at the same time, the Penguins were able to hang around in the series and almost pushed the series to a seventh game.

SERIES PREDICTION --> THIS SERIES IS UNBELIEVABLY TIGHT TO CALL, BUT WILL GO TO SEVEN GAMES.

IN THE END, THE FLYERS WILL WIN THIS SERIES BECAUSE THEY WERE A CONSISTENT TEAM DURING THE SEASON, BUT THEY MUST WIN GAME 1 IN PITTSBURGH. THE FLYERS HAVE MORE GOAL SCORERS, AND IF DANIEL BRIERE SCORES LIKE HE DID WITH THE BUFFALO SABRES IN 2006 AND 2007, THEN WATCH OUT FOR THE FLYERS.

*PENGUINS WIN THIS SERIES IF THEY CAN WIN GAMES 1 AND 2 AT HOME TO OPEN THE SERIES.


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