Philly (43-29-7-3) was the only division winner to have less than 100 points and they face a team from their division that missed out by 2 points. The Flyers are led the Sedin twins, who are unproven in the playoffs. Daniel led the team in scoring with 80 points with Ray Whitney (79) and Jarret Stoll (72) in second and third. Though Philly has one of the best rated goalies in Roberto Luongo, he hasn't been putting up the numbers expected. Luongo has a 3.09 GAA and .889 SV%, numbers that will have to improve if the Flyers want to go deep into the playoffs.
New York (39-27-13-3) just missed out on the division title but have been playing well down the stretch, going 6-2-2 in their last ten games. The Rangers may be the only team whose leading scorer is a defenseman, as Phillipe Boucher leads the Rangers with 54 points. Mikael Samuelsson and Stephane Yelle take the 2nd and 3rd spots on the team. Since acquiring Mike Smith, he has taken over goalie duties for the Rangers posting up respectable numbers. A 2.80 GAA and .903 SV% in 36 games since joining the Rangers.
Special Teams
Philly must improve their powerplay if they have any hope of making it far in the playoffs, clicking at a rate of 14.6% it's good enough for 24th in the league. Though Dustin Penner does have 12 powerplay goals, he'll have to continue that scoring into the playoffs. The penalty kill is mid table, literally mid-table at #15, Scott Niedermayer will have to continue excellent offense and defense for the Flyers in the postseason.
Though their leading scorer only put up 54 points, the New York Rangers have the 4th best powerplay. It is a bit of mystery why, but Philly should be wary of putting the Rangers on the powerplay. The Rangers could improve on their penalty kill which is good enough for 20th in the league. However, the Rangers give up the 4th least amount of penalty minutes in the league, a trend that must continue for the Rangers to have any hope of winning.
In 8 games against each other, Philly took the season series 5-1-2 outscoring the Rangers 27-21. Jarret Stoll and Ray Whitney both had 9 points for Philly in the series while Mikeal Samuelsson and Rene Bourque both had 7 for the Rangers.
Where the series will be won or lost for:
Philly - Won - Luongo proves himself in the playoffs - Lost - Allow the Rangers to get too many powerplays
New York - Won - Outstanding play from Mike Smith, goad Philly into too many penalties - Lost - Defensive collapse, allow too many shots on Smith
Prediction
I think this is Philly's series to lose, they won the season series, they're stronger on paper, it depends mainly on Luongo. I'll predict Philly in 5.
Big win for NYR to tie the series.. its now a best outta 3 which is a scary thing to think that after changing gears 5-10 times this year joe could beat out a guy who has built a nice team but they are just underachieving.
should be a good finish to this series i think a game 7 is likely..
Wow I got completely mangled! Holy Christ how did my team go from spliting the series and each game being decided by 1 goal basically to getting spanked up like a red headed step child 11-0 in the most lopsided ass whooping ever. Either way congrats to a better team who should have mopped up the floor with my Rangers in 4 games. Hats off to my boys for making a series out of it and even making the playoffs at all. Can anyone say GM of the year, or at least turn around franchise of the year. Thanks for your votes, and good luck to everyone else who survives round 1. -Joe DesMarais NYRGM
