3 Flyers players that need to step up for them to hold onto a playoff spot
The Philadelphia Flyers have a lot of players that can help them make the playoffs.
The Philadelphia Flyers have been one of the top teams in the Metropolitan Division all season long. They are a pleasant surprise based on the preseason projections of where they'd be.
As of right now, they are 33-24-8 which is good for 74 standings points. They are 3rd in the Metropolitan Division which is good enough for a playoff spot.
Now, the challenge is going to be hanging onto that spot as the season comes to an end. The New York Islanders are getting hot and chasing them down. There are a few other Metro teams that are a winning streak away from being in as well.
If the Flyers are going to make the playoffs, they need their core to step up big. They also need a few unexpected names to come through down the stretch.
We know what to expect from those core guys like Sean Couturier, Cam Atkinson, and Travis Konecny but it is the others that need to play well for the team to continue winning.
These are the three players that must step up for them to get it done:
Bobby Brink is a big key to the success of the Flyers down the stretch
The Philadelphia Flyers selected Bobby Orr Brink in the second round (34th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft. He started making a name for himself in the NHL this season, his rookie year.
He started the year in the NHL, was sent to the AHL for a little bit, then returned to the big leagues. He did all of that without complaining and just trusted the process.
In 42 NHL games played, he has 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 points. That is not bad production for a rookie second-rounder at all. He is going to continue getting better as the years go along.
Brink doesn't play in every game for the Flyers. However, they could use his offense so it is time to start playing him regularly.
The Flyers certainly don't need him to carry down the stretch to make the playoffs but they need him to be a contributing factor. He has the tools to do so.
Owen Tippett needs to be a contributing factor for the Flyers
Like Bobby Brink, Owen Tippett is part of the future core. The latter might even be considered a part of the core already with the way he has played.
He was a first-round pick by the Florida Panthers (10th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft. He was one of the major returns that the Flyers got back in the Claude Giroux trade.
It has worked out well so far for them. In 61 games played this season, Tippett has 22 goals and 16 assists for 38 points.
This is his second straight season of passing 20 goals and he is five short of his career mark set last year. He is also 11 points short of his career high set a year ago.
Tippett has hit a little bit of a dry spell. He has gone four games without a point/goal. Philly needs him to produce at a high rate if they are going to have dangerous enough depth to get into the playoffs.
Sam Ersson needs to be great down the stretch for the Flyers
Certain off-ice situations have led to Sam Ersson taking over as the number-one goaltender in Philadelphia. It is always hard for a rookie netminder to get going in the NHL but he has done a good job in a hard situation.
So far this season, Ersson has a record of 18-13-5 with a .898 save percentage and a 2.62 goals-against average. The Flyers play well enough for him to succeed but he needs to be on top of his game as well.
If you don't get good goaltending in this league, you can't win at all. For the most part, Ersson has been good enough for them in the situation that they are in.
You can't say he is their goalie of the future yet but his name is in the running. While they try to get in this year, he needs to be at his best.
If all three of these guys are used the right way and play like we know they can, Philly will complete the task of getting into the postseason.
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