[Jlg-28]

Source: Flyers.com

Two days after knocking the New Jersey Devils out of the playoffs in five games, the Flyers convened at their practice rink for meetings and an optional skate.

This, after having a complete day off on Sunday to enjoy the gorgeous weather and spend time with friends and family.

It is a sharp contrast to this time last year, when the Flyers played the equivalent of nine games in the first round with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Philadelphia won that series in the seventh game, which featured both a double and triple-overtime contest.

Because the Canadiens completed a comeback against Boston with a 2-0 win on Monday night, Philadelphia will face the winner of the Toronto-Ottawa seventh game on Tuesday night. The Flyers would host either of those two teams in the first two games later this week.

If the Flyers have any preference as to which team they would like to face, they aren?t letting on.

?It doesn?t really matter. They are all good teams,? said Mark Recchi. ?Whoever you face, you would probably have to face eventually anyway. All we can do is prepare ourselves to play as hard as we have, if not harder.?

Flyers Head Coach Ken Hitchcock also is not saying if he would prefer one team to another, but he is happy to be starting at home.

?At this time of the year, you always want to open at home,? he said. You want as many home games as you can get. To go in and outplay a team in its own building in Game One or Two is pretty unrealistic.

?I think the biggest challenge for us right now is how we?re going to line up our lines depending on the opponent," said Hitchcock on Monday morning, before Montreal defeated Boston. "These are three different teams who play three different ways and who have strength in different areas.?

The at-least-four-day rest could do wonders for one particular Flyer, as defenseman Kim Johnsson suffered a hairline fracture to his right hand late in Saturday?s series-clinching victory. Hitchcock said that because of the swelling, Johnsson would not have been able to play if there were a game today or if the Flyers did not close out the Devils.


Well to be honest I would have rather played the bruin , since there defense isn't as moble as are and we would have had the edge in goal and as well as the forwardss , now of the two team that we could meet in the 2nd round I think we would be in for a war regardless of whom we play , and I think they could beat either of these teams but I would like to play the leafs , after last years war and the way we handled them for all but the last game the two teams played against we did welll in the regular season matchup , but regardless game 1 will be here in Philly , so we shall see after tomorrows Game & between the Leafs and Sens.

Montreal gets to play Tampa Bay in the 2nd round , I hope that series is a long hard fought war and if some how the Habs beat Tampa and the Flyers get past whomever they play , the Flyers would get home Ice Advantage for the Conference Finals ( not to get to far ahead of my self but hey it is possible )