Just when you think all is lost, the Flyers start to pull you back in. A resilient 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils helped the Flyers get back on the positive end of results after a lost weekend.
It was also the first time in several days that the Flyers made a positive shift in the standings, moving to within four points of the final playoff spot.
Part of the reason for the Flyers shift the other direction has been playing without Sean Couturier, a player that has proven so valuable to the defensive side of games. The Flyers announced they would be without Couturier for four weeks on Feb. 5, but yesterday Ron Hextall provided an update saying he is slightly ahead of schedule. That opens the door for a return at least as early as the Flyers first game of March, two weeks from Thursday.
The Flyers have six games remaining in February before a stretch run of 20 over March and April. Those next six games, potentially all without Couturier, are simply about survival.
When Couturier went down with injury, this time on a long-term basis, the Flyers had a 2-6-1 record in the nine games played without him at the time. It took the Flyers seven games to double that win total.
Since the injury, the Flyers are 2-3-2 without Couturier in the lineup, not good enough to really make any progress in the playoff race, but clearly not poor enough of a record to fall out of the race.
Facing a four-point deficit, and a way to make it up given their upcoming schedule, the Flyers need to just try to hold the margin where it currently is.
If Couturier returns in time for March, he returns in time for at least five crucial games that remain on the schedule, the five left against the two teams currently tied for the final wildcard spot. The Flyers play back-to-back games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, separated by four days, in early March. They face the Pittsburgh Penguins three times from March 19 through the end of the season on April 10.
That 10-point swing is the season.
Having the forward who has really been the catalyst for sustained success back in the lineup could be the push the Flyers need to make the playoffs after all.
But again, before we even talk about the chance of getting Couturier back with a legitimate chance, the Flyers still have to play without him in several games that won't be easy.
The Flyers come off the 6-3 win over the Devils with a two-day break before a back-to-back in Montreal and Toronto. The Canadiens are just two points back of the Flyers and facing a similar challenge in the standings. Toronto has struggled all season, particularly of late, but got the best of the Flyers just a month earlier.
The Flyers also close out a five-game road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes, one of three teams the Flyers must pass in the standings to get to that final playoff spot.
That is potentially where the window for Couturier's return opens. The Flyers return from the road trip with six straight games on home ice starting against Minnesota in eight days. That may be a little soon for Couturier to return, but with no travel coming for a stretch, the Flyers will be able to go day by day with Couturier and get him back into the lineup when he's ready.
And when that time comes, if the Flyers have survived that, they may just be able to pull off a late run after all.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
