Philadelphia Flyers: 5 Best Playoff Performers on the Roster

By (Correspondent) on April 3, 2011

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 20:  Daniel Briere #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Ottawa Senators on January 20, 2011 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Flyers are entering the final week of the regular season.

A No. 1 seed is certainly in reach for the Flyers. Their 103 points is the most points in a season since 2003.

That was the first step. The next step is to advance through the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup.

In order to accomplish that goal, multiple players must step up for the Flyers.

The good thing for Philly is that it is returning 16 players from last year's Eastern Conference championship team.

Multiple Flyers have good track records in the postseason.

Here are the five best Flyers when it matters most...in the playoffs.

5. Kris Versteeg

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 22:  Kris Versteeg #10 of the Philadelphia Flyers waits during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals at the Wells Fargo Center on March 22, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Paul Bereswill/
Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

So hopefully Kris Versteeg's name is spelled right on the Stanley Cup this time around, if he wins it for a second straight year.

In 2010, for the Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks, Versteeg compiled six goals and 14 points.

Versteeg got five of those points against the Flyers in the Finals.

Versteeg was a great addition for the Flyers roster as they head into the playoffs.

His championship ring will prove to be the most valuable asset he brings to the team.

4. Brian Boucher

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 22:  Goalie Brian Boucher #33 of the Philadelphia Flyers concentrates during an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals at the Wells Fargo Center on March 22, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Paul Bereswill/G
Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

Brian Boucher was put of the Flyers' magical run last year.

He was also part of a very solid postseason run for the Flyers back in 2000, when they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

In his career, Boucher is 17-14 with a 2.20 goals-against average in 34 career playoff games.

Because of his experience, Boucher will probably get the call in net for the postseason. However, coach Peter Laviolette could handle it like he did last year and have Boucher and rookie Sergei Bobrovsky split time until the Finals.

3. Mike Richards

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 22:  Mike Richards #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers waits during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals at the Wells Fargo Center on March 22, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Paul Bereswill/
Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

Mike Richards has some of the most playoff experience on the team.

He has scored 15 goals and 28 assists in 52 career postseason games.

It is not so much his scoring that impacts the outcomes of Flyers games in the playoffs.

It is about the way he plays the game and the way the team follows the captain's lead.

Mike Richards is an enforcer, which plays to his strength in playoff hockey.

2. Chris Pronger

PHILADELPHIA - FEBRUARY 22:  Chris Pronger #20 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates the Phoenix Coyotes on February 22, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Coyotes defeated the Flyers 3-2 in OT.  (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Since 1995, Chris Pronger's team failed to reach the playoffs just one season.

Pronger is also an enforcer whose style of play fits perfectly for the postseason and for the Flyers system.

He does not put up gaudy numbers, but Pronger prides himself on the defensive end. He held a 5 plus/minus last season in the Flyers run to the Finals.

When Pronger is one the ice, it is very difficult for any opponent to create a presence around the net.

1. Line of Briere, Hartnell and Leino

CHICAGO - MAY 29:  (C) Ville Leino #22 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammates Scott Hartnell #19 and Danny Briere #48 after scoring a first period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game One of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Unite
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Thanks indirectly to Jeff Carter for putting this line together.

The trio of Danny Briere, Scott Hartnell and Ville Leino was unstoppable last year, and it has been so far this year.

In the playoffs last year, the line combined for 21 goals and 41 assists in 23 games, although they did not play together until Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Briere has always been a steady scorer in the playoffs, both for the Flyers and for the Buffalo Sabres.

This line in 2011 has produced over 30 percent of the Flyers offense. If any team is going to stop the Flyers, its first priority should be to shut down this line.

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