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Philadelphia Flyers: Playoff Race Update

By Paul Boyes |
Mar 4, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Flyers have looked prime for the task and had the look of last years’ run after going toe to toe with the best team in the league and taking a point from them in their own barn.

Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers /

Philadelphia Flyers

In this day and age of the 3 point game, 5 out of 6 points puts a team right back in the race.

As does 3 straight losses in a world of parody. With the playoff race heating up in both conferences,

(They deserved  the win except for Del Zotto’s  penalty in O.T.)  That feel I haven’t had for quite awhile as I expressed before with Hakstol’s defensive change of the system, stifling the offense and exposing the weaknesses of our defense.

Well, they haven’t played that way the past 3 games and the results have been there. Yes, they need to score more goals and have the goaltender Mason has provided lately to make the run they did last year.

Then you have to factor in incredibly poor calls that go against the team 90% of the time and puck luck but our shooting percentage has to go up here even slightly if the right process is followed and they play with that “playoff ” urgency.  We faced worse odds last year as the team stayed healthy and played their butts off to earn that last spot in the east.

They’re gonna need a lot of luck and help from other teams as well but hey the other teams are in similar binds….did I mention Elias sports bureau has us listed with the toughest schedule of all the playoff teams in the hunt.

You should all know that the Flyers wouldn’t have it any other way.

This is not an elite team (in 3 yrs)…Yet they do have a lot of gumption, moxie, and the solid core to build around. Maybe Filppula is just a stop gap for the rest of this and next year, time will tell as he can really make a name for himself by taking the pressure off of Giroux and Couturier and chipping in with his first goal as a Flyer to tie the game against the Panthers Tuesday night.

Unfortunately, Hextall couldn’t make a play for Duchene or Landeskog, (for whatever reason…) at least he did something.  This tells me one thing and one thing only, whether he has the same faith in the core group that I have or not.

He’s gonna let them live or die by their own swords.  The team sits 3 points out with the Islanders ( holding wild card spot)losing their game on hand in Calgary and have 3 more games on their road trip as do the Philadelphia Flyers.  As the coach said,” it’s gonna be a grind.”

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