Flyers Playoff Schedule 2012: Odds & Predictions for Opening Series vs. Penguins

With the 2012 NHL playoffs at hand, there is no better time to talk about the odds of a team like the Philadelphia Flyers getting out of the first round against a team like the Pittsburgh Penguins.

As good as Pittsburgh is with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, the one team they have had trouble with over the past few season has been the division rival Flyers.

There are questions about the goaltending situation in Philadelphia, but their consistent defense and timely scoring may be enough to send the NHL’s favorite team home early.

That’s called poetic justice. Crosby can cry from Super Mario’s couch.

First-Round Playoff Schedule (TV and Times)

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins (108 Pts) vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers (103 Pts)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia at Pittsburgh	NBC Sports Network, TSN
Friday, April 13, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia at Pittsburgh	NBC Sports Network, TSN
Sunday, April 15, 2012	3 p.m.	Pittsburgh at Philadelphia	NBC, TSN
Wednesday, April 18, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh at Philadelphia	NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Friday, April 20, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia at Pittsburgh	NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Sunday, April 22, 2012	TBD	Pittsburgh at Philadelphia	TBD
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012	TBD	Philadelphia at Pittsburgh	TBD

Odds for Each Team

Flyers—66 percent

The key for the Flyers, as it is every year, will be the play of their starting goalie. This year’s goalie carousel has stopped on enigmatic netminder Ilya Bryzgalov. After a rough start to his career in Philadelphia, it’s time for Breezy to prove his worth and help the team move on.

Penguins—34 percent

As good as the duo of Malkin and Crosby has been, there is no doubt that the strong forechecking of the Flyers will keep the duo contained in the offensive zone. If Philadelphia can contain offensive minded defender Kris Letang, the Flyers will win this series fairly easily.

Series Prediction

In the sixth meeting of these two teams in the NHL playoffs, the battle for Pennsylvania will be the most intense yet, with no love lost during the regular season meeting and bloodshed a thing of normality between the teams.

With both goaltenders playing well, but both offenses playing even better, I expect a full-on offensive assault. A series of seven 5-4 games would not shock me at all. In between all the goals, I expect plenty of hitting and enough fisticuffs to satisfy any NHL fan.

Winner: Philadelphia Flyers in Seven Games

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