Eastern Conference Finals Preview

Stroll with me, if you will, down Memory Lane. Don’t worry; it’s not a long walk.

Sunday, April 6, 2008. The Flyers are hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Wachovia Center in the regular season finale. Both teams have clinched playoff berths, but the seeding is still in question. A Pittsburgh win would mean the number one seed in the East and a first-round date with the eighth-seeded Flyers.

Though they had something to play for, Penguins coach Michel Therrien benched a healthy Sidney Crosby and Marc Andre Fleury, and the Pens that did suit up basically went through the motions. As you no doubt recall, the Flyers won 2-0 and vaulted to the sixth seed, then began the magic carpet ride that has them in the Eastern Conference finals.

There are those who believe Therrien’s actions represent his ducking the Flyers in what promised to be a long, physical, and potentially draining series, one that could have an adverse effect in later rounds. Therrien defended his move by saying he preferred a match-up with the Ottawa Senators in round one, as the Senators were injury-riddled and sinking like a bowling ball that had been dropped in the deep end of a swimming pool.

His move was justified, as the Penguins swept Ottawa. After dispatching the Rangers in five games, the Penguins now find themselves on a collision course with the team they wanted nothing to do with a little over a month ago. And this time, they can’t duck and cover.

Like their first two playoff rounds, a majority of the “Experts” are of the opinion that the Penguins will win this series. We’ve been down this road before, so we shouldn’t be surprised by the ignorance displayed by the national media.

Remember, the Flyers stood no chance against soon-to-be crowned MVP Alexander Ovechkin and the newest incarnation of the Russian Red Army team based in Washington D.C. The Capitals were the hottest team entering the playoffs. Goaltender Cristobal Huet was virtually impenetrable. Never mind the fact that their season-ending winning streak was against the weak Southeast Division. This was Destiny’s team.

The Flyers advanced in seven games.

Undoubtedly the Flyers would succumb to the top-seeded Montreal Canadiens. The Habs, after all, had enough confidence in rookie goalie Carey Price to jettison the aforementioned Huet to Washington. Sure, they were pushed to the brink of elimination by the eighth-seeded Boston Bruins, a series in which Price was so rattled he made Huet look stable by comparison. But they were the last Canadian team standing, and the league was desperate for an end to the 15-year Cup drought in the great white north. This was Canada’s team.

The Flyers prevailed in five games.

So here we are in the NHL’s version of the Final Four. Pittsburgh belongs here. They’ve got Evgeni Malkin, Marian Hossa, and of course Crosby. They haven’t really been challenged thus far in the post-season. Fleury is Patrick Roy 2.0, and we should etch his name in the Conn Smythe trophy right now.

The Flyers shouldn’t pose much of an obstacle. I mean, they didn’t really beat Washington as much as the Capitals lost. And Montreal dominated their series with Philadelphia. The Flyers just got lucky. Yeah, the Flyers beat Pittsburgh five of the eight times they played this year, including four wins with Crosby in the line up, but that won’t matter here. The NHL and NBC want Crosby and the Penguins in the finals and on national television as often as possible. Yes, this is NBC’s team.

Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it…Flyers in six.