Flyers try to stay alive in Game 6 vs. Bruins

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05/12/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Flyers will try to stay alive in the Eastern Conference semifinals once again when they host the Boston Bruins tonight at Wachovia Center in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series.

The seventh-seeded Flyers lost the first three games of this set, but have stormed back with back-to-back victories to stave off elimination. If Philadelphia is able to post a third straight win tonight, the Flyers and the sixth-seeded Bruins will meet Friday in Boston for a decisive Game 7.

Philadelphia is trying to become just the third team -- and first in 35 years -- to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series. The last time it happened was in 1975, when the New York Islanders charged back to defeat Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals. The Detroit Red Wings were on the wrong end of the other 3-0 comeback, losing the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals against Toronto.

The Flyers would be just the sixth team in NHL history to force a Game 7 after being down three games to none.

After winning Game 4 in overtime on home ice, the Flyers stayed alive with a 4-0 victory in Boston on Monday. Simon Gagne scored a pair of goals while Michael Leighton returned from a long layoff and filled in for the injured Brian Boucher, helping the Flyers dominate the Bruins in Game 5 at TD Garden.

Leighton, who hadn't played since March 16 and missed almost eight weeks with a high left ankle sprain, held off the home team for the final 35:25 of the contest by stopping all 14 shots he faced.

Boucher, the starter, left early in the second period with a knee injury after making nine stops, but nonetheless received credit for the victory. Boucher was hurt when teammate Ryan Parent fell on him during a goalmouth scrum with the Bruins' Miroslav Satan 4:35 into the second period. The defenseman's full weight appeared to come down on Boucher's left leg, causing the 33-year-old to writhe in pain.

An MRI revealed that Boucher has a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, as well as an injury to his right knee, and is expected to be sidelined for a month. Leighton will get the start tonight and Johan Backlund will serve as the backup.

"Leighton, after a couple of months, comes in there and plays shutout hockey for a period and a half," Flyers forward Scott Hartnell said. "It doesn't matter who's in the pipes for us."

Ville Leino added a goal and one assist while Hartnell also tallied for the Flyers.

"It obviously feels a little bit different now," Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger said. "They're still sitting in the driver's seat, so we've got to come out with the same intensity in Game 6."

In addition to Boucher, Flyers forward Claude Giroux also suffered a shoulder injury in Game 5, but he is expected to play tonight. Giroux has five goals and four assists in 10 playoff games this year.

Tuukka Rask allowed all four goals on 31 shots in defeat for the Bruins, who suffered their first home loss of the 2010 postseason after five straight wins. Boston, which is trying to make the conference finals for the first time since 1992, was also dealt its first home playoff shutout loss since Game 2 of last year's conference semifinals against Carolina.

"They came out and slapped us in the face. Now we have to realize it's a series," Bruins forward Mark Recchi said. "We weren't on top of our game. We didn't play well. When you're not playing well, it doesn't matter who was in the net or who you're playing."

The Flyers are 3-1 at home in the playoffs and were 24-14-3 as the host during the regular season. Boston is 2-3 on the road in the postseason after recording a respectable 21-13-7 record as the guest during the regular season.

Boston and the Flyers are meeting in the playoffs for the first time since 1978. Each team has won twice in the four all-time playoff series between the clubs. The Flyers won the most notable matchup, beating Boston in six games to win the Stanley Cup in 1974. The Bruins have won the last two encounters, including a five-game series win over Philly the last time clubs met in the 1978 Stanley Cup semifinals.

The Flyers and B's split four games this year in a season series that included Boston's 2-1 overtime victory in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park. Both the Bruins and Flyers had 2-1-1 records in the series.

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Colts give the ‘D’ its due

The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.

They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.

"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."

Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.

New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.

Not so sound on the ground

If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.

Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com

“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.

Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.

Brees says bring it on

Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.

Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.

Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.

"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."

SportsBooks ready for a shootout

Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.

“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”

New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.

The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.

“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”

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