This is one of the more lopsided matchups we’ve seen in recent history, with the Blackhawks being a 2-seed and the Flyers being a 7-seed.
That being said, the Flyers ended their regular season on a great run and carried that stretch with them into the playoffs. Goalie Michael Leighton has done a fantastic job filling in for Brian Boucher in one of the critical moments of his career, racking up a save percentage of 94.8 percent, and a Goals Against Average of 1.45 per game.
The Blackhawks have been led by young guns Patrick Kane, a top-5 point scorer in the regular season, and Jonathan Toews, who is arguably the most fundamentally sound player in hockey.
None of the information listed above is of any further value, as the past cannot tell who will succeed in this matchup. But perhaps the Hawks will be too hard to handle, and the higher seed will prevail once more. Or maybe the Flyers will bring a storybook ending to their Cinderella-esque playoff venture. This Saturday, we’ll find out. As I look into my crystal ball, here’s what I see happening:
No. 2 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS vs. No. 7 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Chicago Keys to Win: The Young and the Restless. Rising stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews must continue to carry this team. This speedy, young front line has brough the Hawks thus far, and it’s up to them to take their squad any further. Antti Niemi also needs to step up to the plate, as he does not hold much Stanley Cup experience, but to his defense he did rack up 12 wins this post-season including a four-game rout of the top-seeded San Jose Sharks.
Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook lead a consistently improving defensive core that has shown that they will chew up and spit out their opponents relentlessly (except for Duncan Keith). If they continue to play as physically as they have been, this series will be a no-brainer.
Philadelphia Keys to Win: Michael Leighton. Although Leighton has played phenomenally, filling in for the injured Brian Boucher as of late, his playoff experience leads me to question whether or not he will perform as well as he did in the earlier rounds (i.e. Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak).
However, blueliners Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timmonen playing in front of Leighton have a lot of playoff experience, and their ability to contain the Chicago offense is another factor as well. That along with steady play from seasoned wingers Daniel Briere and Simon Gagne, and captain center Mike Richards staying healthy, will carry this team through.
My Prediction: Blackhawks in Six. Although the Flyers bring in more veterans, the Blackhawks have shown much more balance between their regular season play and postseason play than the Flyers, and I think that will bring a halt to the Flyers’ successful (not for long) playoff run.
