Chris Pronger is injured, absent, hidden from view.

Brian Boucher has a malfunctioning finger, to match 30 years of Flyers goaltending.

Simon Gagne is not coming to the rescue this time.

Jeff Carter might ... as if that will matter.

All of which means that just because they recovered from an 0-3 hole to eliminate the Boston Bruins from the playoffs last season, they don't automatically get to do so again this year.

They can recover from a 1-2 deficit, though. That, they can create with a victory Wednesday at the Garden.

Tuesday at the Skate Zone, they still seemed confident and motivated --- just not as much as they did last year.

Prediction: A quick end to a strange season. But that's just a prediction.

Check out my column Wednsday in the Daily Times and on delcotimes.com about Peter Laviolette's ridiculous claim that the pressure is now on the Bruins. Really. What does he take Philadelphia fans for?

Now, it is off to Boston for me ...