(5) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (4) Buffalo Sabres

The Flyers have been inconsistent all season long, battling one injury after another. The Sabres pushed Ottawa for the Northeast Division title before cooling off in the second half. As with every other series, this one will most likely come down to goaltending. In that instance, the Flyers have a slight edge starting Robert Esche. Esche, some will recall, two years ago backstopped the Flyers to a miraculous run that saw them lose to Tampa Bay in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals*. The Sabres, meanwhile, will be starting rookie Ryan Miller. This is one series that could go either way, though I think it entirely depends on which Flyers team shows up. If the team that beat Ottawa and the Rangers at the end of the season shows -- henceforth known as the Good Flyers -- then I think Philadelphia wins in a slugfest. If the team that lost to Toronto and was embarrassed by the Devils shows up -- henceforth known as the Bad Flyers -- then it's a cakewalk for the Sabres. Prediction: Buffalo in 5. Series home page. *It has been implied by some around the blogosphere and in the print media that Esche led the Flyers during that run. This is a misnomer, I believe. That playoff run was all about Keith Primeau; Esche, as with the rest of the team, went along for the ride. The absence of Primeau will be a big factor in this series if Buffalo manages to sweep the first two games at home.