Game #66 Preview: Rangers @ Flyers 3/14/09

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The two games this weekend vs. the Rangers obviously count the same in the standings, but I get the sense that Sunday's means more. It a nationally televised, network game at Madison Square Garden. But before tomorrow comes today, and today looks pretty good.

Why the Flyers Will Win:

• The Rangers, who were way out in first place to start the season at 10-2-1, had fallen out of playoff position to ninth before just recently getting back up to seventh. The Flyers have been much steadier throughout, and that counts for a lot.
• The last time these two teams met it was an absolute ass kicking.
• Martin Biron has been very solid of late, and he gets the start today, with Antero Niittymaki getting the nod for tomorrow.
• I really refuse to believe they're in any danger, but the Flyers technically are only five points ahead of ninth place. They're mentioning how tight it is in press conferences, which has boded well in the past.
• Sean Avery.

Why the Rangers Will Win:

• I'm betting Daniel Carcillo is going to do something real stupid with Avery. Stevens foreshadowed it pretty explicitly in his presser, and Carcillo is certainly still looking to make a name for himself.
• The last time the Rangers visited the Wach was a long time ago. When she was still relevant.Sarah's spirit still haunts the building, and the presence of two Alaskans (Matt Carle and Scott Gomez) is certain to awaken it. Maybe Ed Snider can pipe in some more deafening applause and patriotic music as an offering. Comcast-Spectacor will need to do something to keep the Ghost of Palin Past at bay, because she can't be happy about her daughter being dumped by her son-of-a-meth-dealer baby daddy.

Prediction: Rangers 3-2. Not feeling this one.

Oh, and if anyone can count the number of times Jeff Carter shrugs in the below clip, please post your estimate in the comments. I appreciate the help, because I just can't count that high.

Game #38 Preview: Flyers @ Ducks 1/2/09

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Across the halfway mark of the six-game road trip, the Flyers venture to the city of Mickey Mouse and the Rally Monkey to play the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Stanley Cup winners of just two seasons ago.

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This is a big game if only for the reason that it represents the first chance the Flyboys have had all year to move into (a share of) first place in the Atlantic Division with a win. The Rangers are idle tonight, and two points would tie the Flyers with them at 49 points, with the Flyers having a game in hand. With first in the division comes the #3 seed, a historically good number for the Flyers since the non-divisional playoffs (see 1997 Finals, 2004 Conference Finals) (don't see 1998). So that would be a nice milestone if nothing else, and would really represent triumph over the Curse of Sarah Palin.

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Why The Flyers Will Win:

• The chance to get first in the Atlantic will add motivation for an inter-conference game that's just not there for Anaheim.
• Ducks have lost four of five, their only win over the lowly St. Louis Blues.
• The Ducks are the definition of mediocrity. Won half of their home games, lost half of their home games. They've won half of their road games, lost half of their road games. They've Scored 107 goals, let in 107 goals. In the old days we woulda assured a tie, but since I'm feeling optimistic these days, I'll say this ensures a Flyers win. Or at the very least overtime.
• Last time the Flyers were in Anaheim, they scored five goals. In the first period.

Why The Ducks Will Win

• The young Flyers, with their Center City barhopping habits and parties thrown by Joffrey Lupul, almost certainly got way more hammered on New Years Eve than did the Ducks. WAY more hammered.

That's all I can come up with in the Anaheim column. Which is a good thing.

Puck drops at 10 EST.