Nhl Playoff

Whether it's Mike Richards' wayward elbow to Pat Kaleta's coconut in Game 4 or Kris Versteeg and Tyler Ennis trading crosschecks at the end of Game 3, the Flyers and Sabres have shown a healthy dislike for each other. The Daily News compared the Flyers-Sabres with the other five series that had played four games heading into last night and saw the chippiness is just about the same across the board. Keeping in mind that credited hits vary depending among arena stat crews, here's what we found.

Next week's Soul game at San Jose has been moved up a day because of the NHL playoffs. The Soul will play the SaberCats on Friday, April 22 at the HP Pavilion. Kickoff remains at 10:30 p.m. Eastern time. It is the first meeting between the teams since Philadelphia beat San Jose in the 2008 ArenaBowl. The move was necessitated by the NHL scheduling Game 5 of the San Jose Sharks' first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings at the Pavilion on Saturday, April 23. The Soul (1-3)

EASTERN CONFERENCE Washington over Rangers in five. Caps too deep for Callahan-less Rangers. Flyers over Buffalo in six. But if Pronger isn't ready, Sabres will advance. Pittsburgh over Tampa Bay in seven. Goaltending the difference as Penguins survive. Boston over Montreal in six. Defense gives Bruins look of a conference finalist. WESTERN CONFERENCE Vancouver over Chicago in six. Payback time as Canucks oust champs.

TORONTO - Like the colorful flags that hang outside most major league ballparks to depict the day's standings, the Flyers have a whiteboard just feet from their dressing room at their Voorhees practice facility, a constant reminder of the sacrifice it takes to remain on top. For the NHL, it might as well be a Wheel of Fortune board. The colors - and teams - can move from top to bottom from night to night. Take, for instance, Los Angeles. Terry Murray's Kings entered last night's action in eighth place in the Western Conference.

Jeff Reese couldn't imagine a more treacherous situation for a goalie to skate into. Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Boston. An elimination game for the Flyers, who are clinging to a 1-0 lead with 15 minutes, 29 seconds left in the second period. A long way to go. Goalie Brian Boucher is under a pile of bodies, his legs folded under him. He's helped off the ice with a knee injury. Michael Leighton, who had never appeared in an NHL playoff game, is thrust into this cauldron.

The most physically demanding tournament in professional team sports begins Wednesday with the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's a time of the year when injuries become closely guarded secrets, coaches can't be taken at their word, nerves become frayed, and razors and shaving cream are set aside as players carry on the tradition of growing playoff beards. Eight weeks from now, a grubby-looking captain of one of the 16 clubs involved in the playoffs will hoist the Stanley Cup. It's likely his face will reveal the pain and sacrifice it took, but his smile will light up the arena or, in the game's vernacular, the building.

DOUG ROSS lives on the side of a mountain now, separated from a world that moved too fast, used too many things, made too much noise. "He's anti-technology," Jared Ross was saying about his dad after scoring his first NHL goal in the Flyers' 6-3 playoff victory over Pittsburgh yesterday. "No cable. No cell phone. No computer. "He just got an answering machine a couple of weeks ago. " He has a television, though, and 1,500 feet above Huntsville, Ala., his rabbit ears can pick up the NBC affiliate with hardly any snow on the screen at all. "So I'm sitting alone in my front room, talking to my mother," Doug Ross was saying over the phone.

Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins   Ed Moran: Flyers in 7 Rich Hofmann: Flyers in 7 Sam Donnellon: Pittsburgh in 6 Ed Barkowitz: Pittsburgh in 6   Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens   Ed Moran: Boston in 5 Rich Hofmann: Boston in 5 Sam Donnellon: Boston in 6 Ed Barkowitz: Boston in 7   Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers   Ed Moran: Washington in 6 Rich Hofmann:...

This has been a season of firsts for Claude Giroux. He made an NHL team, scored his first goal, is recognized as one of the up-and-coming rookies in the game and now he is looking forward to his first NHL playoff series. "I'm very excited," Giroux said. "I've been watching playoffs since I was a little kid. It was my favorite hobby. I wouldn't miss a game, even the late games on CBC. I would never miss them. It's just exciting hockey and I can't wait to get my first crack at it. " If Giroux's first playoff experience goes as well as his first NHL regular season, he should be more than just a kid in his first postseason.

Marty Turco has quite an opportunity in front of him. The Dallas goalie is 0-9-2 in the NHL at Joe Louis Arena, where he will have a chance to stop nagging questions and extend the Western Conference finals against the Detroit Red Wings. "It's nothing short of an exciting challenge for all of us, and for me personally," Turco said after helping the Stars stave off elimination. Stars forward Steve Ott said the stage will be set perfectly for Turco tomorrow in Game 5. "He wants that win probably more than anybody," Ott said.