How wrong was I in the Pittsburgh & Philly series, actually how wrong was everybody for that matter!? Who would have thought Marc-Andre Fleury would have choked that badly?
Although the Flyers advanced, they got lucky and I say that because once again they are having goaltending problems. Ilya Bryzgalov played bad in every game and even in game 6 when the Flyers knocked the Penguins out. If it werent for the Flyers defense it’s a safe bet to say Bryzgalov would have blew that game for them. The Flyers knocked out the Penguins in game 6 solely because of the 38 blocked shots.
But that’s over with now, moving onto the Semifinals.
It took the New Jersey Devils 7 games to beat the Florida Panthers, and that is mind boggling. The Devils had chance after to chance to bury the Panthers and they just kept blowing their chances and almost did in game 7. Rookie Adam Henrique came to the rescue and bailed out the Devils in game 7 as well as did Martin Brodeur.
Watching Brodeur in that game 7 reminded me of the Brodeur from the 90′s, yes that’s how GREAT Brodeur played. And he did this at the age of 40, well almost 40 years old.
With the old saying “Defense wins championships” you have to think the Devils have the advantage. Or do the Flyers continue to play as they did in game 6, blocking shots, keeping pucks far away from Ilya Bryzgalov?
The problem for me is not just the goaltending for the Flyers but they have been on a lengthy rest waiting for the Semifinals to start. The Flyers have proven they have slow starts when having time off. But they do have home ice advantage and the fans should get them going.
Of all the series in these 2012 NHL playoffs, this series is going to be the most exciting to watch. The Flyers rookies have been on fire and the Devils rookie Adam Henrique has been on top of his game, I believe it will be a battle of the rookies. With of course a mixture of Claude Giroux, Zach Parise, Scott Hartnell, Martin Brodeur and Patrick Elias.
Why didn’t I mention Ilya Kovalchuk? Because after watching him in game 7 I think I finally realize he’s not cut out for playoff hockey. Either he was very tired or his nerves got the best of him. He looked like total garbage and if he doesn’t step his game up against the Flyers, it’s going to be lights out for him and the Devils.
WAKE THE PUCK UP KOVALCHOKE!
The Flyers will play a hard hitting series and the Devils better get ready for it, and having no time off may be an advantage for the Devils. Getting right back into action where they left off.
At the end of the day though, the Flyers did knock off the mighty Penguins, who everyone including myself would win the Stanley Cup. I will say this though, if Marty Brodeur plays like he did in game 7 versus the Panthers, it will be lights out for the Flyers.
This series will come down to which goaltender stands on his head the most.
Series Prediction: New Jersey Devils to win the series in six games.
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