The set-up: The 31-27-8 Philadelphia Flyers have lost nine of 14 (5-7-2) to fall five points behind the New York Islanders for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the 35-26-6 Boston Bruins now occupy third place in the Atlantic Division (76 points) on the heels of a 9-3-0 surge since Bruce Cassidy replaced the fired Claude Julien on Feb. 7 behind the bench. The two long-time rivals meet in an early Saturday afternoon game in Boston.

Philadelphia: The Flyers have been riding a roller coaster all season and Thursday's 4-2 loss in Toronto is just another nail in the team's coffin. A 5-7-2 record in their last 14 games is not the kind of second-half run that leads to the playoffs. They open play Saturday not only five points behind the Islanders for the second wild card but they would also have to climb over Toronto and Tampa Bay before reaching the Islanders.

Boston: The Bruins' LW Brad Marchand has 25 points (15 goals, 10 assists) in his last 17 games and is being mentioned among the NHL's elite players these (he has team-leading totals of 32 goals and 70 points). The team's top two centers, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, have been on fire under Cassidy, and LW David Pastrnak has a seven-game points streak (his 57 points are second to Marchand). Goalie Tuukka Rask has 31 wins in goal and the defense has started scoring under the team's new coach.

The pick: Still, Boston remains squarely on the playoff bubble for a team yearning to end a two-year run of failing to make the playoffs. Philadelphia's Steve Mason was passed over for Thursday's game in Toronto but starts in goal on Saturday against Boston. He is 6-2-3 with a .226 GAA and .933 save percentage against Boston in his career. Take the 1 1/2 goals and make the Flyers an 8* play.