Philadelphia Flyers: Does Big Win Over Pittsburgh Effect Playoff Picture

 Dig deep is a common phrase in sports, Hockey especially. The Philadelphia Flyers did that Wednesday Night.

The Gods’ threw a change-up Tuesday night with the Leafs losing, getting pounded by the Panthers, but the Islanders came back against the Hurricanes (three point game) and the Lighting prevailed against the Senators.

The night started out in the Philadelphia Flyers favor but as change-ups go, what you thought you were seeing was just an illusion.  So the Philadelphia Flyers needed to dig down deep for their despicable arch rival, who for a long spell of six seasons could not beat us on our worst night, spotting the Penguins 2-3 goal leads, only to storm back and beat them soundly.   Oh, those were the days my friend, I thought they’d never end (anybody over 45 may continue singing that song for the rest of the day).

The thing is in this Matrix hockey world Bettman has created, we are left with the illusion we’re still in this.

So here we are again after a superior effort against those guys from across the state.  Now I don’t believe it was above some efforts they’ve had and not come away with points because of some puck luck they haven’t had most the year.

This was a solid one though with great efforts from the Captain, Couturier and Simmonds to go with a solid all-around play from Weise, Schenn and the 2nd line had some good shifts as Filppula has had many chances and created some.

This game means nothing without a follow-up a win in Jersey tonight if they can then they still have a life.

So to humor the unfaithful fans of the Flyers will go through the motions of looking down the road.

The Leafs look to have a fairly easy last eight games, on paper that is; five home, three away, last four at home. They’ll start with a home game with Florida, off, at Nashville, off, at Detroit, off two days, at Buffalo, next night home to Washington, off two, then back to back at home with PIT and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Not so easy but best on paper, slightly better than the Flyers who we will get to, The Lightning after having a minor fire sale at the deadline has been the hottest in the league since then, possibly have been the 2nd toughest.

They’re home for four straight, Chicago, off two, Detroit, off, back to back with Montreal and Dallas. Then three games in four nights with Boston, off, Toronto. Montreal, off two, then end with a home game  to Buffalo.

With four meaningful games with teams in a hunt or trying to remain in their positions and the Black-hawks to boot.  Buffalo and Detroit have spoiler written all over them as well.

Then we come to the team from Brooklyn.  With five away and three at home on the worst ice surface in the League, they have the hardest route in my view.

Starting with a home game vs the Predators (in the hunt in the West) then an away game,  possibly the biggest game of the year for both teams at the Wells Fargo, back to back, home to NJ the next night.

Then their last five games are four away to Buffalo, Nashville again, Hurricanes, New Jersey, and Ottawa at home as the last game of back and back.  The Islanders have been better but their road record is still poor.

Philadelphia Flyers

If the Flyers can keep the illusion up when their home comes against the Isles and win, then there’s a minuscule shot if the other teams falter as they very well could.

The Flyers last eight games are: five home three away, five games in eight days, not ideal, first two home to the Sens, off, Isles, day off then back to back home to New Jersey than in Madison Gardens for New York Rangers, three days off, then the unbiased computer the NHL uses gave us our only back to back at home this season to Columbus Blue Jackets (can’t wait for that one, cause we always beat them…) and then the Hurricanes.

On the last days of the season with 18 back to backs, pretty sure every team has had more than one set of back to back at home this year and before the last games of the season.

Of course, we have to factor records against each other and a whole slew of advanced metrics, but why bother.  Because it’s an illusion, but I tried my best…not advisable to hold breath.