Supporting cast could play a big role in Flyers-Penguins matchup

PITTSBURGH - There is no question that four of the biggest names in the Flyers-Penguins series are Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The battle among those four will have a significant impact on which team survives for another round.

But what might be getting overlooked is the capability of both team's the third and fourth lines having a say.

Any of several players, including Jordan Staal, Pascal Dupuis, Maxime Talbot, Claude Giroux, Danny Briere or Darroll Powe, could come out from under the shadows and have a significant impact on the series.

That point was not lost on Flyers coach John Stevens yesterday.

"From a coaching standpoint it would be a mistake just to focus on [Crosby and Malkin]," Stevens said.

"Obviously there is a huge concern there with both teams having relied an awful lot on their top two lines. But if you recall last year, Staal had a huge game in one of those games in the series when we were keeping the other guys in check, and I think the Giroux line has been a huge factor for us.

"They're going to have a bigger responsibility defensively, but I see the role players on both teams being very important in this series. I know Talbot and Dupuis have already been a force in giving this team energy in shorthanded situations and I know they were probably the factor in the Montreal game [on Saturday night]. It's going to be no different for us.

"Darroll Powe and Giroux, Briere, [Daniel] Carcillo, [Arron] Asham and these guys are going to be a big factor in this series."

Staal would be a top-two center on many other teams. He is 6-4, weighs 220 pounds and can be a force coming through the middle and going to the net. The Penguins want him matched against Carter, which leaves Malkin against Giroux when Pittsburgh gets the line change it wants.

The Flyers will want to see Carter on Malkin. Which means Giroux will end up with Staal. In either situation, that is a lot for a rookie who is generously listed at 5-11 and 172 pounds.

But Giroux and Briere say they are ready for the challenge.

"Hopefully we can make a difference," Briere said. "It's been the goal here for our line and it's been clicking and it's been playing well and hopefully we can be that factor that makes it go our way.

"Obviously, and rightfully so, everybody is talking about those four guys. They've had a tremendous season, all four of them, and it's going to make for a very interesting series for the fans.