BRUINS (series) -139 5dimes
Forget about what philly did to NJ, NJ hasnt had any playoff punch for a long time. With Gagne/Carter out and facing Chara/Rask Philly will struggle to score big time. Savard coming back, a completely healthy Bruins team that won the presidents trophy last season takes this 4-2. They roll out 9 quality forwards to Philly's 4-5. Philly has an edge in Defense but it wont be enough to win this series. Rask is far better than Boucher at the difference of a full goal per game. Here is the NHL scouting ranks for the players in the series, not counting role players:
Bruins Forwards
Savard 86
Bergeron 83
Krejci 83
Recchi 82
Ryder 82
Sturm 82
Wheeler 81
Lucic 80
Satan 80
Bruins Defense/Goal
Chara 92
Wideman 81
Ference 80
Seidenberg 78
Hunwick 77
Boychuk 77
Rask 91
Flyers Forwards
Briere 86
Richards 86
Giroux 82
Hartnell 82
Carcillo 78
Van Riemsdyk 78
Lapierriere 77
Asham 76
Betts 76
OUT: Carter 86, Gagne 85
Flyers Defense/ Goal
Pronger 91
Timonen 84
Coburn 83
Carle 81
Parent 76
Krajicek 75
Boucher 79
Bruins will continue to roll out balanced lines against Philly and Chara will match up against either Richards or Briere totally smothering him. Philly will not get near the offense it needs to beat a red-hot Rask. Bruins 4-2
Forget about what philly did to NJ, NJ hasnt had any playoff punch for a long time. With Gagne/Carter out and facing Chara/Rask Philly will struggle to score big time. Savard coming back, a completely healthy Bruins team that won the presidents trophy last season takes this 4-2. They roll out 9 quality forwards to Philly's 4-5. Philly has an edge in Defense but it wont be enough to win this series. Rask is far better than Boucher at the difference of a full goal per game. Here is the NHL scouting ranks for the players in the series, not counting role players:
Bruins Forwards
Savard 86
Bergeron 83
Krejci 83
Recchi 82
Ryder 82
Sturm 82
Wheeler 81
Lucic 80
Satan 80
Bruins Defense/Goal
Chara 92
Wideman 81
Ference 80
Seidenberg 78
Hunwick 77
Boychuk 77
Rask 91
Flyers Forwards
Briere 86
Richards 86
Giroux 82
Hartnell 82
Carcillo 78
Van Riemsdyk 78
Lapierriere 77
Asham 76
Betts 76
OUT: Carter 86, Gagne 85
Flyers Defense/ Goal
Pronger 91
Timonen 84
Coburn 83
Carle 81
Parent 76
Krajicek 75
Boucher 79
Bruins will continue to roll out balanced lines against Philly and Chara will match up against either Richards or Briere totally smothering him. Philly will not get near the offense it needs to beat a red-hot Rask. Bruins 4-2