(5) Philadelphia Flyers    vs.      (6) New Jersey Devils

47-26-9      Record        48-28-6

22-13-6        Home          24-13-4

25-12-3         Away           24-15-2

260              Goals For           239

225         Goals Against        200

+35              Differential        +39

6th              PP Rank            14th

17th            PK Rank          1st

1st                PP Time           14th

29th                PK Time          14th

7th      Even-Strength Rank    19th 

First Round Stats

5.00       G/ Game      2.57

4.33       GA/ Game     2.43

30.2    Shots Against/ Game   27.9

52%     PP %     20%

69%      PK %      67%

 Prediction: Flyers in 5

Breakdown:
When you’re hot, you’re hot … and that is exactly what the Flyers are right now.  Never mind the fact that they are likely a little rusty from the extended layoff, because CLR will come in the form of stepping onto the ice at a raucous Wachovia Centre this afternoon.  After spanking the Penguins like an ADD child in the 1970s, the Flyers are a confident beyond compare and the rookies on the club are looking the part of veterans with Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn and Matt Read being way too comfortable with the pressure cooker. Then there is that Giroux guy who got 14 points in the first round, much to the nausea of the rest of the NHL.  Danny Briere should continue his playoff stud status and Ilya Bryzgalov seems to have gotten the playoff bear … I mean monkey, off of his back.  New Jersey is not to be underestimated in goal, as Brodeur was a rock from Game 4 onward in the First round and has a little bit of playoff experience in his brief career.  All of that said, this series will come down to Special Teams, where the Flyers have an embarrassing advantage.  They went over 50% on the PP in the first round, against a team that had the league’s 3rd best PK during the regular season.  The Devils had the #1 PK unit during the regular season, but got absolutely burnt in South Beach where no amount of lotion can protect you from Goal light rays (not to mention the rats).  Thus, look for trends to continue, and for Philly’s PP to carry them to another surprisingly brief victory.  New Jersey will have a hard time adjusting from playing Florida to playing the team that de-pantsed the Cup favourite, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them heading back to the swamp down 2 games.  Philly also has a stellar road record, so good luck to the Devils winning in either barn.