The significance of the Flyers’ Easter Sunday game has just increased dramatically.
Rick Tocchet’s team now has an opportunity to secure a playoff spot when they host the Bruins at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSP. This follows Saturday night’s regulation losses by both the Islanders and Blue Jackets.
Consequently, a win or even an overtime/shootout loss on Sunday would propel the Flyers into the final playoff position (third place) within the Metropolitan Division.
Currently, they hold 88 points, trailing the third-place Islanders by just one. Should the Flyers earn a point on Sunday through an overtime or shootout defeat, they would gain the tiebreaker advantage over the Islanders due to having played one fewer game.
However, a victory would be the most favorable outcome for the Flyers. Such a result would grant them sole possession of third place with only five games remaining. They would accumulate 90 points, surpassing the Islanders, who have four games left, by one point.
Both the Islanders and Blue Jackets are off on Sunday. The Flyers are tied with the Blue Jackets in points, having played one less game.
Two other Saturday games also went in the Flyers’ favor, as both the Senators and Red Wings suffered regulation losses.
The Flyers are currently in a four-way tie with the Senators, Red Wings, and Blue Jackets for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. They trail the Senators and Red Wings due to the regulation wins tiebreaker.
It’s important not to overlook the Capitals, who are performing well and have 87 points, just one point behind the Flyers in both the divisional and wild-card standings.
The Flyers have shown remarkable performance late in the season, posting a 13-5-1 record over their last 19 games. They are striving to end a five-year playoff drought.
While much attention has been on the wild-card race, the Flyers can now primarily focus on securing third place. They now control their own destiny within the division.