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The first post of my Flyers Playoff Blog...right lets get on with it.

The first round of the '08 playoffs are finished after an amazing 7 game series against the Washington Capitals. Despite my deep, dark hatred for the Capitals, I do concede that they put up a good fight and the series showed why hockey is a great sport. It's a safe bet to say that at least one or two of the games will appear on both Caps and Flyers "Best Of" collections.

 After reading some other Caps blogs which seem to plague the Flyers SI page at the minute, I do have to kick up a bit of stink for their treatment of the Flyers Fanbase. The Flyers fans are the greatest fans in hockey (I know because I'm one of them). I realise that there are some out there that take things a bit far and spoil it for everyone but that's strictley the minority. I am sick of reading other teams fans calling us "mutants" and "disgraces to hockey" (I am not making those quotes up!). The proof, is in a video of Jeff Carter's post game interview where he is hit be a bottle thrown by a Washington Capitals fan after the ice is bombarded with trash during the Flyers celebration. Where's the proof you ask? Here: http://www.the700level.com/2008/04/caps-fans-litte.html#more. The two videos here show who the real disgraces to Hockey are. I am also a little upset about the Hab's fans conduct after their victory over the Bruins. God forbid what will happen if they should beat the Flyers - Montreal will be brought to it's knees. This is a quote from a Police Officer in Montreal: "We [the police] learned a lot in 1993. ... We had believed that society had also come a long way. ... I have to conclude that isn't the case." Case rests.

Right, enough of the negative banter (their be plenty more to come as I pick holes in the NHL in future posts), on to some really Hockey talk. The Flyers now must face the Canadiens in the Eastern Confrence Semi's which looks like a tough one. If you believe what most analysts are saying, the Flyers will be swept and forgoten of quickly. But, all the analysts appear to dislike the Flyers so I refuse to listen. I still have hope despite the Flyers 0-4 record against the Habs. I remember in the 2003-2004 Eastern Confrence Finals vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning. That season, the Lightning had gone undefeated against the Flyers. The series reached a climactic game 7 which the Flyers unfortunatley lost.

The Canadiens may be playing on form, but the way the Flyers played in Game 7 should give Hab's fans something to worry about. They may have a long list of veterans but they also have a large number of Rookies, particularly their Goalie, Carey Price, who we all know made some rookie mistakes in the series against the Bruins. Also, the Canadien's have speed on their side. However, I don't believe they can match the Flyers grit and hard line playing that the Bullies are famous for, which may even things up. Also, Prospal and Briere continue to show a great double act, that has boosted Briere to top number of points and goals in the playoffs. I admit I have seen little of the Habs-Bruins series because I'm in the UK and it's a bit difficult for me to play fair in these kinds of things.

 One final point - Home Ice. I don't know what the Hab's fans are like (rowdy and destructive it appears) but I get the shivers when I see Wachovia Centre filled with Flyers fans, getting their Orange Crush on. It's a beautiful sight and has proved timeless in helping boost the Flyers on.

 My prediction for the series? Flyers in 6