It's no secret to anyone what a mess the Flyers are at the moment and that at first glance their current plight is not one to be backed against a superior opponent today. Despite that, their are a few positives that should be considered today.
What is working...
1) Their Captain and best player. Giroux is coming off back-to-back multiple point games and a four-game point streak in which he has two goals and four assists for six points… Giroux also has points in six of his last seven games and through March has posted at least a point in all but three games (8 of 11)
2) Their powerplay. The Flyers have the NHL's best power play, operating at 24.2 percent, going 31-for-128… They have gone perfect on the man advantage in each of their last three games, going 4-for-4 in that span… They also have the NHL's best power play on home ice, going 18-for-59 (30.5 percent)… Their 18 PPG at home make up 41 percent of their goals scored at home… Claude Giroux ranks second in the NHL with 18 points on the power play.
3) Young Defenceman. Oliver Lauridsen is a very steady and intelligent young defenceman who makes quick, intelligent, safe decision with the puck. At 6'6 220lbs he can more than handle the physical aspent of the game and is a very good and agile skater for a big man. Let's be honest he won't have much trouble being an upgrade to Coburn right now, who is admittedly having his worst season of his otherwise stellar career. The lockout has done that to many players.
4) Motivation. Apparently the Flyers had a pretty intense team meeting, at least according to coach Laviolette who is as good a motivator as ever there has been, despite recently being unable to do so with this group. "There is nothing to lose," coach Peter Laviolette told the team's official website. "We talked about that a little bit today. We put ourselves in this situation and there's nothing we can do about it except to prepare to go and play a hard nosed hockey game and plan to be successful against the Boston Bruins."
"You have to believe. That's the main thing. Believe in yourself that you can make plays; play good defense; play against any other line and get points every night. One shift at a time, one play at a time."
- Scott Hartnell
The Bruins have an amazing 9-0-1 record in Philadelphia over their last 10 games there. One one hand we could say that type of domination should be backed, but on the other hand make no mistake the Flyers players are well aware of this stat and struggling as they may be these are still pro athletes with alot of pride inside them and they no doubt would like to do something about that against a team that just shut them out a few weeks back.
5) Afternoon Record. While sporting a losing record this season overall the Flyers do however hold a winning mark in day games with a 4-3 record. They have also won 4 of their last 5 day games played this season with the only loss coming at the hands of the Bruins themselves.
The Bruins. General thinking for most people is that when a team does not get a big player they were supposed to that they come out angry to prove something, however that is usually not the case. In the past in these situation the team suffering the disappointment quite often comes out a big flat, which is somethig the Bruins have been a bit lately anyway.
"It's tough. I mean, we're talking about a really good player," Chiarelli said. "This kind of stuff happens. It shouldn't, but it does. The reality of no-movement and no-trade clauses, it's going to happen more. It's a disappointment, but you get back on your horse and you go out there and find some more players
The Bruins do own the NHL's best penalty kill unit, however that unit has also been scored upon in their last 2 games, which may perhaps open the door just a bit for the red hot Flyers powerplay unit.
The linesmakers also in no way set a scary line if you want to back Boston here against the mightily struggling Flyers. In fact it is a line that is quite inviting for Boston wagers given the current Flyer situation and the utter mass dominance the Bruins have had over the Flyers recently, especially in Philadelphia.
I think the Flyers come hard today, not so much for a playoff push, but just for a group of guys on a late season Saturday afternoon against a team that has kicked them around lately at a time when they are probably pretty sick and tired of being kicked around.
No doubt this play deserves some laughter and I will take the heat, but I feel there are enough variables and intangibles in place today to make a play on the home dog here in this situation. I am all set for the I told you so's and how could you bet on that teams etc. And can't blame anyone one bit for saying so after this game but I'm gonna walk the plank here and take a shot.
Flyers +130
"May God Have Mercy On My Soul"