Somehow, the Flyers are just two points out of a playoff spot, and that means that with two weeksish left in the regular season, we really have to commit to this nightly scoreboard watching thing. Which games impact the Flyers’ chances this Friday evening? Just a pair. No three point games, please.
No. 8 Rangers at No. 1 Penguins
The Rangers have been playing some very up and down hockey of late, but after shipping away Marian Gaborik on Wednesday and adding a ton of depth across the board, they’re hoping they’ll be able to actually score some goals the rest of the year. It worked out in the first half of their home and home with Pittsburgh on Wednesday night when all of their new acquisitions — Derick Brassard, Ryane Clowe, John Moore — put points on the board. But will that continue?
Pittsburgh’s looked downright bad in their last two games coming off of their 15-game winning streak, and unfortunately, we’re going to have to hope they turn it around and put together another win tonight against the Rangers. If that happens, the Flyers could be in a position to tie New York in points tomorrow afternoon when they take on Winnipeg.
No. 5 Senators at No. 14 Sabres
Despite sitting at No. 14, the Sabres are still somehow in this thing too, and if they were to win tonight against their division rivals, they’d be just a point behind the Flyers (although there would be a game in hand involved). The Flyers really probably aren’t catching Ottawa, who sit seven points up on Philadelphia, so we’ll have to just hope they eliminate the Sabres threat nearly once and for all with a victory.
