Pressure Mounts in Both Locker Rooms as Bruins, Flyers Prepare for Game 5

The Bruins and Flyers both held optional skates Monday morning in advance of Game 5 at the TD Garden.

The Flyers continue their quest to deflect pressure on the Bruins, saying that they, the B's, are in a tougher position trying to get that difficult closing win. However, the Bruins seem to be welcoming the pressure with open arms.

As head coach Claude Julien pointed out, maybe all this talk from the Flyers is just a sign that they can’t handle the pressure that their season is over if they lose tonight.

"If people can’t handle the pressure and they want to dish it out on others, that’s fine because we don’t really need that," said Julien. "We put pressure on ourselves to win every game. When you handle pressure the right way, it’s a great thing. If you can’t handle it the right way, then it becomes a bit of a burden, and sometimes you try to hand it off to others."

Flyers forward Daniel Carcillo, who missed the last two practices due to a knee injury suffered in Game 4, is a game-time decision after skating Monday morning, but is likely to play. Carcillo seemed to back away from the idea that the Flyers have nothing to lose, stating that both teams are in difficult positions.

"It’s do or die for us but they have to close it out too and that’s usually the hardest game," Carcillo said. "So I think it’s on both teams and you just go out and play hard."

Also, of note is that goaltender Michael Leighton who played a pivotal role in the Flyers getting back into playoff contention this season, will back up Brian Boucher. Leighton had ankle surgery as the regular season came to a close and was originally thought to be out for the postseason. But he has skated the last three days and got the green light to dress Sunday.

As for the Bruins, defenseman Adam McQuaid, who suffered a lower body injury in Game 3, is expected to be skating either Tuesday or Wednesday according to Julien.
 
"He's getting better and hopefully the next day or so, you will probably see him back on the ice," Julien told the media in his daily press briefing.

Here’s the expected Bruins lineup for Game 5:

Forwards
Daniel Paille–Patrice Bergeron–Mark Recchi
Milan Lucic–Marc Savard–Miroslav Satan
Blake Wheeler–Vladimir Sobotka–Michael Ryder
Steve Begin–Trent Whitfield–Shawn Thornton

Defensemen
Zdeno Chara–Johnny Boychuk
Matt Hunwick–Dennis Wideman
Andrew Ference–Mark Stuart

Goaltenders
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas