The Flyers have finally wrapped up the seven game gauntlet stretch of which all were and still are current playoff teams. Despite ESPN projecting the Flyers to go 0-7, they were able to finish with a record of 2-3-2 amassing 6 more points than zero. Two overtime losses left two extra points on the board, which may or may not come back to haunt us as the playoff hunt winds down. The Washington Capitals sit at 81 points 2 games in hand behind the Flyers sitting with 82 points. The playoff hunt was kept alive just barely following these 7 games. With just 9 games remaining the worst is past them, let’s take a look at the remaining schedule.
Of the remaining teams in the hunt, the Flyers do have the weakest remaining schedule. Washington has games in hand, but their next 5 games are all against playoff teams. The next 5 will see the Flyers play the league’s bottom 4 teams and wrap up against Buffalo. Detroit sits at 79 points still alive for WC 2, their next 5 games sees them face 4 playoff teams in a row. Washington and Detroit taking on tougher opponents gives the Flyers their best chance at holding onto their playoft spot.
This stretch of games taught us a lot about this team and allowed different players to bloom a little. With Seeler/Risto/Drysdale all injured and Walker gone, players were given a chance to step up on the back end, and boy did they. Ginning and Attard come up to play right smack in the heat of this playoff gauntlet, and they’ve become the second pair! Both of them have played with confidence and poise, and just do not seem rattled at all by the big moment. I personally wanted Attard to get more time up here because I believed he would become a solid player for us. Even in such a small sample size it’s been so nice to see the both of them get a shot and flourish.
This stretch of games also saw some of the offense lines stabilize/gel. Morgan Frost, the ever controversial Flyer, settled things down with a phenomenal set of games! The line of Tippett-Frost-Konecny amassed 13 even strength points over their 5 games together including a tied personal best point streak for Frost. Post game Coach Tortorella spoke very highly of the trio saying they really have something there. It’s exciting to see them hit the ice together posing a scoring threat every shift. I hope they continue to produce offensively with such a good mix of their skillsets.
Players are heating up down the stretch at the right time. Defensive help is on the way as Seeler/Drysdale are skating again, we know that Alexsei Kolosov will be heading over in some fashion to be determined. This end of the season is looking to be a fun final push and I can’t wait.
Like to close on a fun note:
For those who aren’t aware, through 73 games played the Flyers have sat in A playoff spot of some fashion the entire season. Against all odds, despite all jests, the Flyers have held it together. I often wonder how this season would have played out if Ivan Fedotov wasn’t help captive in Russia. A tandem of Ersson/Fedotov might have been able to steal a few more wins. (At the time of writing this the Flyers have lost 18 games by 1 goal, meaning if Fedotov WAS able to come in and the hype was accurate, we might be looking at Metro 2’s spot) All a theoretical scenario but still interesting to think about if he ever was to make it to Philly.
Written by: Anthony Spotts
Authors note: I’m at work while typing this
THIS WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE FEDOTOV NEWS BROKE I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!
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