FORWARDS: Two great top lines. Both lines feature a strong, two-way playmaking centre, a talented, high-scoring RW, and a goal-scoring LW. I give the advantage to the Flyers’ top line due to Clarke’s incredible defensive play and Clarke and Shanahan’s significant physical play. There’s a lot of offensive firepower on the second line. Overall, Philadelphia gets the advantage here due to superior depth. Drury, Verbeek and Larmer provide toughness, two-way play and veteran leadership, while Plett provides toughness and Nilsson and Robitaille provide additional scoring threats. I also like Miami’s depth, but they don’t have the same level of toughness or firepower. Advantage: Philadelphia.
DEFENSE: Miami has a significant advantage here. While they won’t score much, Howell and Johnson are the top two defensemen in this series and are capable of playing 25 minutes per night each. Miami has great depth of its own with rushers in Svedberg and Stanowski and some size and toughness in Wilson. Philadelphia has strong depth with two excellent rushing defensemen from the past (Gerard and Griffis) and a Hart-winner. I like the Flyers' speed, but the lack of an elite blueliner will hurt. Advantage: Miami.
COACHING: An interesting match-up. Despite many criticisms, Keenan is often able to get a lot out of his players (albeit usually for only a few years at a time). In a one-year, one-playoff series showdown, I think that Keenan is an ideal motivator. Keenan’s often criticized for mishandling young players and goalies. I don’t see either of those (rather significant) flaws affecting the series here. Everybody on Philadelphia is a proven veteran, and there’s really no way to screw up the goaltending strategy of starting Brodeur in every game. On the other hand, Patrick was a brilliant innovator. I’m sure somebody with his level of hockey knowledge could come up with some appropriate strategies. Too close to call.
GOALIES: A match-up between two of the best playoff goalies ever, with the cool and composed Brodeur facing the competitive, intense Roy. The advantage goes to Miami; Roy’s three Conn Smythes are impossible to overlook. Roy also gets the advantage because he can play not to lose (like Dryden) on dominant teams, or keep his team in the series even if all the other players are struggling. It’s also worth noting that Brodeur might be slightly out of his comfort zone here; his playoff success came behind excellent defensive, trapping teams. It doesn’t look like the Flyers will play that style. While I expect that Brodeur and Roy will get all the starts in this matchup, it’s worth noting that Worters is a much better backup than Peeters. Advantage: Miami.
GRIT: When I did my write-up about the Eagles, I noted that most of the teams is large, tough, and not particularly aggressive (Apps, Howell, Johnson, Keane, etc). The Flyers are a much more aggressive team with players like Verbeek, Clarke, Shanahan and Larmer. Will the Flyers’ more aggressive approach wear the Eagles down? Or will it simply land them in the penalty box?
INTANGIBLES: This match-up features two of the greatest captains in NHL history (Clarke vs Apps) and two proven, veteran goalies that will give their teams the ability to open up if necessary. I think that Philadelphia has slightly more proven, clutch players like Shanahan, Larmer and Drury. A fast, mobile defense and the presence of Brodeur gives the Flyers a big advantage on the transition game. Advantage: Philadelphia.
Overall, I believe that the Flyers are a tougher, more skilled team while the Screaming Eagles are better on the blueline and in net. This will be a close series.
