I think this series is the most likely of any to go to a game 7. Many people are automatically going for caps in 5, etc, and I’m not here to say that the Flyers are going to win. I’m here simply to say that these teams have more similarities than you might realize.

Washington finished with 94 points, the Flyers finished with 95. Both teams finished hot: Washington 9-1, Philly 7-2-1.

Washington goals for/goals against was 242/231. Philly’s was 248/233.

Both have little to none playoff experience in net. Biron 0 games, Huet 6 games.

Both teams have 3 cup rings. Was: Federov (3). Philly: Knuble, Hatcher, Dowd

Both have rookie coaches. (Stevens with some experience last year)

Both have impact players injured. (Gagne/Hatcher and Nylander/Clark)

Teams tied for the lead in 4 on 4 goals this season.

So look for a close series, and it’s really a flip of a coin who will come out on top. It will probably come down to which goalie gets hot.

Tom Renney surprised everyone by replacing Lunqvist with Stephen “Flyer’s Kryptonite” Valiquette, to start the 2nd period. Valiquette had shutout the Flyers on two previous occasions this season.

It seemed to spark the Rangers, who got out to an early 4-3, by a goal by Christian Backman, while an injured Briere hobbled to the bench leaving his team shorthanded, meanwhile Valiquette played yet another period of shutout hockey against the Flyers.

However the Flyers would overcome the Valiquette Curse midway through the 3rd thanks to the hand-eye coordination of Jeff Carter, which tied the game at 4-4. However it would be the only goal past the kryptonite, with the Rangers winning 5-4 in a shootout.

Injury notes: Joffrey Lupul, and Mike Richards are skating for the Flyers.

Claude Giroux has been confirmed as an emergency callup for the Flyers and will make his debut Tuesday against Ottawa.

Hopefully he will be the spark the team needs. They are on a 7 game losing streak after losing back to back games to MTL this weekend.
Simon Gagne, Joffrey Lupul, Steve Downie, and Tolpeko are all out with injuries.

Giroux was drafted 22nd overall by the Flyers in the 2006 entry draft.
This coming only two years after Giroux was passed on for the OHL draft and instead entered the QMJHL undrafted.
He has since went on to amass 120 goals, and 183 assists for 303 points in only 179 games.
EDIT: Rumors now say the Flyers might not have qualified for emergency status.
If Giroux doesn’t make it up, it looks like Stefan Ruzicka will replace him.

The Flyers 34 shots weren’t enough to win last night against the Habs, Carey Price made all 34 saves for his first career shutout, while the Habs handed the Flyers their 6th straight loss.
A couple of questionable calls, but in the end Price was great and earned a win.

Even worse for the Flyers is the loss of Joffrey Lupul, who left in the first period with a high ankle sprain.
He had been playing great since returning from his concussion.
This injury along with that of Simon Gagne, Braydon Coburn, and Scottie Upshall(playing hurt) come at the worst possible time for the Flyers. The east is as close as ever, with the Flyers barely holding onto 6th place.

A frustrated John Stevens, decided to play Briere on the wing to try and jump start him.
Briere is a team low -20 this season, Stevens is hoping that shifting him to the wing and playing him with Hartnell and Richards will help his +/- and his even strength numbers. I thought Danny looked pretty good last night.

Good news from last night’s game is that Ryan Parent is starting to look very comfortable and will hopefully be a permanent fixture on the Flyers defence.
His strong play, along with multiple injuries might influence Holmgren to be a seller at the deadline. With Hatcher, Smith, and Vandemeer the most likely to be traded.

I would be happy with a defence of Timonen-Coburn/Picard-Parent/Kukkonen-Jones however it might be a bit soft.

The Flyers play Montreal again today. No word on a Callup to replace Lupul, but Kyle Greentree is already with the team so he is the most likely candidate. Flyers lines will be something like this:

Hartnell-Richards-Briere
Upshall-Carter-Knuble
Greentree-Umberger-Downie
Cote-Dowd-Kapanen

This is assuming that Stevens keeps Briere on the wing. Coburn is a Game time descison for tonights game. If he’s going to play sadly Stevens will most likely bench one of Parent or Kukkonen.

This is almost a must win game for the Flyers, who with another loss could be out of a playoff spot. Good luck Boys!

-Dylan