NHL Predictions: 10 Reasons the Philadelphia Flyers Are Still the Cup Favorites

The Philadelphia Flyers are leading the Eastern Conference with 86 points, and they look to be playing well as the playoffs approach.

The Flyers are only one of four teams in the NHL with at least 200 goals scored, and they are third in goal differential with plus-44.

The team is meshing well and, for the most part, the team has remained healthy.

From the goaltending to the forwards to the defense, Coach Laviolette has his men playing well and getting prepared for the long push for the Stanley Cup.

The following list is the 10 reasons the Philadelphia Flyers will still win the Stanley Cup!

10. Darroll Powe and Blair Betts

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PHILADELPHIA - MARCH 07: Luke Schenn #2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against Blair Betts #11 and Darroll Powe #36 of the Philadelphia Flyers on March 7, 2010 at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Flyers have the best fourth line in the NHL. There are no fillers on this team, and Powe and Betts are two of the best two-way forwards in the NHL.

The duo can add strength to the stable of penalty killers the Flyers have, and they are highlighted as two of the best PK players in the league.

Both Betts and Powe can play against the opposition's best lines and shut them down defensively. The duo has become very good together and seem to feed off of each other’s successes.

9. Mike Richards

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 20: Mike Richards #18 of the Philadelpia Flyers battles for the puck with Michael Sauer #38 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Mike Richards leads the Philadelphia Flyers by example.

He uses his physical play to get under the opposition's skin and then takes advantage of their momentary lack of concentration.

Offensively, Richards is right up there with the other points leaders on the team, sporting 52 points in 61 games this season.

Mike Richards is the perfect leader for the Flyers because his attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes to win lends itself to the blue-collar people of Philadelphia.

8. Solid Goaltending

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 26: Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammate #33 after defeating the Buffalo Sabres on October 26, 2010 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers defeated the Sabres 6-3. (Pho

The Philadelphia Flyers are eighth in the NHL in goals against average with just over 2.5 goals allowed per game.

For a career backup and a rookie who doesn’t speak English, that’s not half bad.

As a matter of fact, that’s better than Miikka Kiprusoff, Martin Brodeur and Ryan Miller and their teams' averages this year.

People say the Flyers can’t win with the goaltending they have, but they continue to defy the odds and prove doubters wrong.

7. Jeff Carter

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 20: Jeff Carter #17 of the Philadelpia Flyers clears the puck against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 2011 in New York City. The Flyers defeated the Flyers 4-2. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

With 55 points through 62 games, Jeff Carter has been one of the best players on the Flyers this season.

His contributions have been more than just offensive this year, as he seems to be adapting to Laviloette’s defensive mindset. I am not saying he’s a great defender, but he is at least attempting to play at both ends of the ice now.

With Carter’s offensive capabilities being more consistent than in previous seasons, his ability to help his team in the playoffs will be greatly increased.

6. Experience

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PHILADELPHIA - MAY 24: Mike Richards #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers recieves the Prince of Wales Trophy for NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly after defeating the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 4-2 to win in Game 5 and advance from the Eastern Conferenc

Almost the entire roster for the Philadelphia Flyers has either won a Stanley Cup or played in the Stanley Cup Finals.

That experience’s value cannot be measured and its importance cannot be underestimated.

There is a ton of stuff going on around the actual games in the Stanley Cup Finals, and the experience of knowing where to be and how to act is priceless.

With fewer distractions, the experience is a clear advantage.

5. Chris Pronger

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 05: Chris Pronger #20 of the Dallas Stars skates against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 5, 2011 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers defeated the Stars 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Chris Pronger is one of the best defensive defensemen of our generation, and the Philadelphia Flyers are lucky to have him on the team.

While Pronger has been a menace throughout his career, his short time in Philadelphia has been filled with success.

The Flyers defender has 24 points through only 46 games, and he is a physical threat every time he is on the ice.

Other teams give Flyers more room when Pronger is on the ice because they are afraid of the retributions they may face if he catches them in the act. Fear is always a good thing.

4. Hunger for the Cup

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PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 09: Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks hoists the Stanley Cup after teammate Patrick Kane #88 scored the game-winning goal in overtime to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 and win the Stanley Cup in Game Six of the 2010 NHL St

Let me preface this with the fact that I know every team and organization in the NHL is hungry for a title. I know that.

What I think the difference is for the Philadelphia Flyers is that they are one of the few teams that put their money where their mouth is.

Even though the Flyers were in first place in the Eastern Conference, the Flyers management still went out and added a piece to make sure there were no holes that could be exposed in the playoffs.

And the hunger doesn’t stop there.

From the chairman of the Flyers, Ed Snider, down to the people who clean the Wells Fargo Center, everyone is on the same page and looking for a Stanley Cup victory.

3. Claude Giroux

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 20: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 2011 in New York City. The Flyers defeated the Flyers 4-2. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Claude Giroux has been my MVP of the Philadelphia Flyers for the first 60 games of the season.

Not only has he been amazing offensively, scoring 58 points through the first portion of the season, he has become a real threat in the defensive zone and on the penalty kill.

The Flyers knew he was talented offensively, but all the intangibles Giroux has developed this season have made him indispensable.

2. Danny Briere, Ville Leino, Scott Hartnell

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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

This line has been one of the most dangerous lines over the last two seasons, and they only get better as the games start to mean more.

After a hugely successful playoff run last season, the trio started the season together, and besides an occasional split, they have remained together all year.

All three have been successful, combining for 133 points and a plus-49 rating.

The trio has their real success in the playoffs and looks to continue that trend this postseason.

1. Defensive Depth

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 05: Andrej Meszaros #41 of the Dallas Stars celebrates against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 5, 2011 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers defeated the Stars 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Im

The reason the Philadelphia Flyers lost in the Stanley Cup Finals last season was the lack of defensive depth at the very end of the series.

The Flyers fifth, sixth and seventh defenders were more like liabilities instead of effective defensemen, and the result was the Blackhawks walking all over them.

The lack of defensive help also exposed the lack of talent in net for the Flyers and showed general manager Paul Holmgren that he needed to make moves.

And he did.

By bringing in veteran Sean O’Donnell and the young-but-qualified Andrej Meszaros, the Flyers have made sure that it won’t be a lack of defensive depth that hurts them in the playoffs.