2010 Winter Classic Team Previews – Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers 18-18-2 – The Flyers have been one of the most disappointing teams so far in the 2009-2010 NHL season.

With a record of 18-18-2, the club has had to deal with the firing of a coach (John Stevens) and the subsequent systems overhaul by a new coach (Peter Laviolette), while dealing with injuries to it’s # one goaltender (Ray Emery) and perennial all-star Simone Gagne.

Despite all of the adversity, the underachieving Flyers are only 2 points back of the final Eastern Conference Playoff spot. 

Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Danielle Briere an Simone Gagne are a good nucleus at forward – one that should be good enough to contend for a playoff spot at very least. On Defense, Chris Pronger was added in the off season to anchor an unheralded, but solid group of Defensemen that include the likes of Kimmo Timonen and Matt Carle. 

Goaltending, as always has been a huge issue for the Flyers.  Failed experiments like Arturo Nittimaki and Martin Biron plagued the Flyers in the past, but the signing of Ray Emery was supposed to give the Flyers a bonafide #1 goalie.  That was until he got injured and the team was forced to rely on untested Michael Leighton and well traveled Brian Boucher between the pipes.

The Flyers, as always were many people’s preseason pick to be the third or fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.  Now is the time to make a run and with a National Television audience on New Year’s Day.  The Flyers will be out to prove that they belong with the Top tier or two of NHL teams.

Boston Bruins – 19-12-7 – The Boston Bruins are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, about where most analysts thought that they would be. 

The Bruins enter the NHL Winter Classic in the middle of the pack when talking about goal scoring, goaltending, and most other team statistics.  With a 8-6-4 home record, the Bruins will be looking to avenge a December 14th 3-1 loss to the Flyers.  A win on New Year’s day would certainly put room between themselves and the ninth place Eastern Conference team, cementing their solid playoff position.

Although the Bruins have no one in the Top 50 in HNL scoring, they definitely play a team concept with leaders on Offense (Marc Recchi and Marc Savard), Defense (Zdeno Chara) and in net (the tandem of Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask).  The Bruins are a complete team – the type of team that will give their opposition fits.  They will look to continue to roll 4 lines and keep the Flyers off balance.

Their goal will be to limit mistakes, as always, and depend on their net minders to bail them out when they do.

Boston is largely an unspectacular team that shows up each and every night.  Effort and a team concept are the strengths of the Bruins.  They don’t jump on teams, they simply compete hard and hope that their efforts are rewarded.  The impending return of the durable Milan Lucic (still a week or so away) will only bolster the grit on this team, and add some scoring touch going forward.

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