Photo Courtesy of Kate Frese
As the 2015-16 season opened up, it was hard to imagine a team like the Flyers securing a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs come springtime.
The usually-high expectations for this club had been tapered. The arrival of a new coach, combined with a team that was still trying to recover from the salary cap purgatory that bad contracts put them in and a lack of scoring depth, all promised to make it appear as though the Orange and Black would miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1992-93 and 1993-94.
At points this season, the Flyers struggled mightily — particularly throughout the bulk of November. They found themselves in position to strike leading up until Christmastime, but as they returned to action for a three-game California road trip, they appeared to bounce back to Earth.
This week, however, the Flyers rebounded with three wins, including a strong 4-0 whitewashing of the New York Islanders that could arguably be considered their most well-rounded win of the season. Though they sit at 6th place in the Metropolitan Division with an 18-15-7 record and 43 points (tied with Carolina), they find themselves three points out of a wild card spot.
A middling division is also one reason why the Flyers have a renewed shot at a playoff berth. While the Metro is home to the league's best team (Washington, with a mighty 31-7-3 record and 65 points), the rest of the division is about as tightly-sealed as a mason jar (no, not a Steve Mason jar).
Both New York teams are tied for second and third, with 49 points. Pittsburgh and New Jersey each have 45 points. That leaves the Flyers (and Hurricanes) with 43 points. Irrelevant to the situation is Columbus, with 34 points.
Another benefit the Flyers have? They have at least one game in hand over the rest of the division, as their games played total (40) is the lowest figure in the Metro. While everybody still ultimately plays an 82-game season, the Orange and Black will get that critical chance to stretch their point total and gain ground — unless, of course, they squander that opportunity.
Since the Metropolitan Division was formed in 2013-14, it's been chided as the league's weakest. The disparity in strength of teams between the Eastern and Western Conferences has been validated time and time again, and the Metro is cited as a contributing factor as to why the East has been considered so weak. The fact that their division is mediocre is one factor as to why the Flyers are close to the playoff hunt, but at the same team, the Flyers are one of the reasons why the Metro is a mediocre division.
According to sportsclubstats.com, the Flyers have an 18.9 percent chance of landing a top playoff spot. They are one of eight clubs with less than a 20 percent shot, and of those eight clubs, five are Eastern teams. Just two other Metro clubs (Hurricanes at 8.2 percent, and Blue Jackets at a whopping 0.1 percent) rank lower than the Flyers.
Dave Hakstol has expressed that it's crucial for the Orange and Black to earn wins and gain momentum heading into this month's All-Star Break, if they want to actually nab a playoff spot. Eight games remain until the layoff, half of which are against division opponents. It's a stretch that will help determine if the Flyers are in a position to defy expectations, and play some springtime hockey.
The Flyers may not necessarily be in a playoff spot by the time the All-Star Break rolls around, but their slate of games leading up to it will determine whether or not they can stay in striking distance.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
