Sabres v Flyers 2011 NHL playoff preview

by Steve

The #7 seed Buffalo Sabres get to face the #2 seed Philadelphia Flyers starting Thursday night. Playoff hockey baby, CAN'T WAIT! The schedule isn't out yet but game two probably will be Sunday. This series could go either way but with the forward depth of the Flyers it is tough to picture the Sabres winning.

Thursday, April 14		at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 16		at Philadelphia, 5:00 p.m.
Monday, April 18		at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 20		at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
*Friday, April 22		at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
*Sunday, April 24		at Buffalo, 3:00 p.m.
*Tuesday, April 26		at Philadelphia, TBD

In their last 24 games the Sabres are 16-4-4 while the Flyers have basically skated through the last two months of the season. Does that mean the hot Sabres will continue to own as a new season starts; or will we see the Sabres of last year who were not ready for a completely different style of play, playoff hockey?

The Flyers have seven players with at least 20 goals the Sabres have four. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter or Tim Connolly and Brad Boyes? Drew Stafford is hotter than a pistol and Vanek is about as elite as anyone in an orange uniform so this game may come down to goaltending and defense.

Ryan Millsie Miller appears to be 100% or so after his "upper body injury" however he has yet to play a full game since the injury. Is anyone scared of Sergie Bobrovsky? He has nearly identical statistics as compared to Miller both 2.59 GAA .001 difference in save percentage. However the 22 year old rookie, Bobo, hasn't won a game since March 29th and got pulled in their last outting. Then again Miller has been completely pedestrian all season and hasn't won a playoff series since 2007. So then it will come down to Pronger v Myers? A showdown between the old guard and the new golden boy in town, the two titans of defense big dog and bigger dog, etc etc.

Chris Pronger has been out a month with a busted hand and has no time table to return. Who knows, maybe they are being coy with him and he'll be ready for the playoffs but if Pronger isn't playing I think Myers will out play him in this series. Etch that into a piece of wood. But will Myers be enough to tip the scales towards Buffalo?

The teams split the season series 2-2, the Flyers have home ice and the Sabres have the momentum. Could this series be harder to prognosticate? Philly coach, Pete Laviolette seemingly owns us and Ruff always falters in the post season so I'll have to say Flyers in 7. See you at HSBC arena Tuesday.