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Philadelphia Flyers: Is this season’s playoff chances virtually over?

By Paul Boyes |
Mar 13, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol talks to his team during a timeout against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Blue Jackets defeated the Flyers, 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol talks to his team during a timeout against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Blue Jackets defeated the Flyers, 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

This was not an article I particularly wanted to write,

I mean to sum up the whole season in a wink of an eye with a statement of this season’s are the Philadelphia Flyers playoff chances virtually over, would that be pessimistic?

If I told you Manning’s careless use of his stick was the reason, would that make it sound like he took a high-sticking penalty late in the game and the Bruins buried us?

Be a fair assessment from an outsider.  Could ‘ve happened to anyone right?  Wrong, another questionable choice from coach Hakstol to have Manning on the blueline at that stage of the game was inexcusable.

However to actually try to get your stick on a harmless shot from 40 ft away at any time in a game let alone in the dying seconds is defense 101.  There and then the Flyers Playoff chances were all but over as it was in similar circumstances( dying seconds) 2 seasons ago against the same team, with the same amount of games left even, ironic right…not in Philly.

The fact that the Flyers sat back in the 3rd was disappointing, but I felt as I’m sure they did, was hang on, get the point then reset and take it to them at 3on3.

Totally plausible as they’ve shown the penchant for the dramatics in the extra session and the Captain has been playing his butt off to lead this team and at least the Ghost has followed suit and picked it up.

Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers /

Philadelphia Flyers

He has looked like last year’s Calder trophy runner-up ( should’ve won)  the past 5 games.  To tell the truth, though, I’m not sure about the second line, its advanced metrics aren’t that good outside of the first game Filppula played there and Konecny (promoted from the 4th line) lost too many board battles.

This I think has had a snowball effect as Couturier has not been the usual defensive-minded player and been guilty of costly turnovers.

Strange as that is considering when he was technically demoted to 3rd line center the trio were very good the first 4 games, not so much the next two.  Move him back up with Jake and T.K and see if that sparks something while Filppula can center Read and Cousins or Weise.

Whichever line is going will dictate their ice time.  Truth be told is that it won’t matter as anything bad can happen…will happen and the  2016-17 season is a matter of just playing out the games and hopefully build some confidence for the core guys next year.

Let the bad taste of this year linger in their mouths over summer so they come back all the madder and have hopefully many replacements on the back-end. Hell, I would give a couple of kids on “D” the chance the last 10 games to get the experience.

They’re 6 pts out of the wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 14 games to go.  The future is all we have….just hoping to live to see it.  Ye of little faith is getting their way….

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