Aces,
Philly and Toronto last 10 games reaching the 5 goal (or more) mark:
Philly 6-4
Tor 8-2
In this series 3-0 (8,5,7 goals)
Neither team has proven it can stop the other. Philly has scored 3-4-3 goals in the first 3 games. Nothing tells me that Philly won't score 3-4 goals tonight. I look for the big guns to pounce on a Toronto team missing its leading scorer. Toronto has scored 5-1-4. If Toronto can get the first goal, the confidence of the entire team swells and 1 or 2 more will follow.
I just don't see the absence of Mogilny preventing the Leafs from getting 2-3 goals. He does have 5 of their 10 goals, one being an empty netter. If Toronto expects to win, they need production from other players.
Toronto wants to go back to Philly up 3-1, not 2-2. This is a defining moment for both teams. And both teams have proven that you have to outscore and outlast rather than win with defense.
I've said it many times before. This is a different Philly team than the one which went Under the total so many times during the regular season before the trade deadline.
There was a point this season when I took the Philly under without hesitation. Not lately, however.
If Philly goes up 2-0 early, however, I will be nervous. 2-2 by the middle of the second is not out of the question.
Looking for a 4-2 victory either way.
Hope this helps and that my feeling is not just gas from lunch.
Good Luck.
~Patel