Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
It’s not too late of course, but it may be later than you think. Sure it’s only the end of January but this is not your typical NHL season. If you bleed orange and black then you are already well aware that the NHL schedule for this February has been gutted to make way for participation in the Olympics. If you are a casual observer of the sport you may have been wondering why so many are already talking about post-season positioning. Yes it’s only January but in a very short amount of ice time it will be the end of February.
The Schedule
The Flyers last game before the Olympic break is Thursday February 5th when they take on the Ottawa Senators in Philly. There are only four games between now and then. At that point the NHL goes dark and the Flyers do not return to play until they face the Caps in Washington on Wednesday February 25th. Then four days later it’s March. If the Flyers do not make the playoffs their season ends when they host the Habs on April 14th.
The Standings
The Flyers are currently in 4th place in the Metropolitan Division with 57 points. The Capitals also have 57. Then it’s the Devils with 56 and the Blue Jackets with 55. The Metro is so tight it squeaks. Every day the positioning changes and the Flyers are fortunate to still be with the pack after their recent six game losing streak.
The Islanders Game
This is what makes the Flyers showing up flat against the Islanders on Monday night so disconcerting. The Islanders now sit in that third playoff spot with 61 points. The Penguins are in 2nd place with 63 points. The Hurricanes are in 1st place with 69 points.
The Atlantic Division has five teams with 63 points or more so they are currently boxing the Metro out of the wildcard spots. If things stay in this pattern only the top three teams in the Flyers division will go on to the post-season.
In this truncated scenario the Islanders game was a huge one. It was not a routine mid-winter match. Immediately after the game the team and their coach admitted to letting an opportunity slip by. This was one of those “four point games” against a division rival.
It’s not actually four points but it is in hockey math. There’s the two points that you didn’t get and the two points that the other team skated away with. They’re actually the same two points it just sucks twice as much.
Momentum
The Flyers just came off of a solid three game road trip out west where they picked up 5 out of a possible 6 points. They capped off the trip by spanking the best team in hockey beating the Colorado Avalanche 7-3.
The Flyers came home to a winter wonderland that offered them a couple days off to recoup, Then they came out totally flat against a comparable opponent and got shut out in front of their home crowd 4-0, what went wrong? Why was there no urgency to stay in this game?
“We had no energy. Kind of disappointing, a division game, coming off the road. That’s a tough effort, it’s on me. We are 3-11-4 after a win, it’s on me, I’ll wear it.” Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said after the game.
It’s good to accept accountability but you don’t have to wear it, just fix it. Get beyond it, put it behind you as quickly as possible and move on. Some players look like they are still thawing out from the Flyers recent cold streak. Confidence and focus need to return.
Everyone’s worst case scenario came to life when star goaltender Dan Vladar went missing due to injury. He’s been key to the team’s success this season. Vladar was at the morning skate before the Islanders game so it is only a matter of time. Like I said it’s not too late, it just may be later than you think it is because it will be March before you know it.
The Flyers can get up for, and win big games against great teams. They have proven that. They just need to stay focused and realize at this point in this odd NHL season, they’re all big games.
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