J’ded Perspective 

The road trip hasn’t started how I hoped it would, with the Flyers dropping the first two games against the Panthers and Lightning.  Still atop in the Atlantic Division at 6-3, the Flyers turn to the Bruins to stop the skid. 

With the Red Sox hunting down another World Series Championship, the Bruins are on the back burner in Boston.  It’s not affecting the Bruins who have had a nice start to the season.  At 6-3, the Bruins are in second place in the Northeast Division, four points behind the Senators.    Behind the current success of the Bruins has been their goalie, Tim Thomas.  Thomas is 4-1 with a 1.20 GAA, tops in the NHL. 

Goaltending is the reason for the Flyers hot start as well.  After a game off, Martin Biron will be back in net this afternoon.  Biron last played on Wednesday against the Panthers where made 38 saves, but allowed four goals as the Flyers lost 4-3.  Biron himself admitted he had an off night and just wants to put it behind him.

“I was anxious [Wednesday] night,” said Biron, reflecting on the four goals he surrendered in a loss to the Florida Panthers. “It was like the [Oct. 6] Edmonton game, where I wished we had a game right away. I felt like we left two points out there, so I’m anxious to get back on the horse, so to say.”

Biron has faced the Bruins more then any other team in his career.  In 24 career games he’s gone 11-11-2 with a 2.53 GAA. 

Keys to Victory

Come alive in the first period.  They Flyers have fallen into a pattern where they begin the game lifeless.  The result is ending the first period knotted at zero (mainly due to Biron’s play), or they find themselves behind.  Although they have been one of the best second period team’s this season, they’ve only gone into the second period with the lead twice.  Ideally the Flyers should score early in this game.  An early lead will boost confidence, and shed any memories of the losses in Florida. 

The defense must play their game.  The defense was terrible Thursday in Tampa.  They were unable to clear the zone.  Instead to challenging the Lightning forwards they would try and block shots, which only gave the Lightning more scoring chances.  The Lightning capitalized and scored four goals on Antero Niittymaki.  The Bruins have the ability to do the same.  Mark Savard, Phil Kessel, and Marco Sturm will put the puck in the net if they go unchallenged.  Derian Hatcher should be back in the lineup today (he missed Thursday’s game with a sore knee), which should help, but the Flyers still need to keep the puck out of their zone.  Martin Biron will make the saves, but he can’t do it all.  The defense needs to step up and do their job. 

Danny Briere must take it to the next level.  Simon Gagne will miss his second consecutive game with “dizziness”, so John Stevens must find a first line that can be productive.  Thursday in Tampa, Stevens moved RJ Umburger to the first line with Briere and Joffrey Lupul, but it was disastrous.  They went a combine minus-seven and tallied no points.  Missing Gagne hurts, but Briere was brought in here to be the team’s offensive leader.  Granted, even the leader has an off game, but he needs to turn it around today, no matter who his line mates are. 

Prediction

Scott Hartnell will score his first goal as a member of the Flyers.  He’s been held scoreless in nine games.  The laws of average have to be in his favor. 

For those who don’t know, the start time of the game was moved from its original 7:00 time, due to Game 3 of the World Series.  The puck drops at 4:00 in Boston.   

Let’s go Flyers!