There are 20 games remaining in the Flyers season starting on Saturday. They sit four points out of a playoff spot. And yet, as Thursday's game came to a close – a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs – it felt as if the playoff hopes finally perished.
The Flyers incredibly successful weekend against Nashville and Washington has been sandwiched by five losses to Columbus, Buffalo, Carolina and now Toronto.
In the beginning, it was admirable – the Flyers were consistently gaining points, even if it was in overtime losses to the Blue Jackets or shootout losses to the Sabres.
This loss, the Flyers third in regulation to a clearly inferior team, may be the final straw.
This was a sort of "what if" game for the Flyers. They took 49 shots on goal, but only scored twice. One of those shots was a close rebound chance for Jake Voracek. Brayden Schenn made a pass back to Voracek with a wide-open net, allowing Jonathan Bernier to get back into position for the save.
At the close of the second, Wayne Simmonds took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that led the Maple Leafs third goal that proved to be the difference.
It seemed like a game where if the Flyers would have managed to tie the score, they would have eventually won in whatever way necessary. Again, what if?
"Played a good hockey game and lost," head coach Craig Berube said. "We played hard, did a lot of good things."
Chances are we'll look back on this season with that sentiment. It has been a forgettable season for sure, as the Flyers have struggled to find rhythm. That has only continued as the Flyers have closed the gap in the playoff picture.
Playoff teams don't lose to the collective group of teams that the Flyers have lost to over this month. The emotional high of defeating the NHL's best team and earning two wins in regulation against Washington are offset by the deflation of losing to Columbus and Carolina and Buffalo.
Toronto had just two wins since Jan. 2. This was another game with two points readily available. The Flyers left the points out there again.
"It obviously frustrating not to get two points," Claude Giroux said. "I think we've got to keep our heads up here."
Even the best playoff teams are subject to a letdown loss here and there to a team far inferior. Five in one month says a lot about a team.
The Flyers effort was there but that does not guarantee wins. For most playoff teams, a letdown loss is few and far between and come at a time when wins are not needed in total desperation.
With an uphill climb, the Flyers can't afford letdowns. Thursday's loss was not nearly the letdown that Tuesday was in Carolina or a loss to Buffalo was last week. But it was equally as disappointing knowing the effort was there and the results were not.
"We're going game-by-game," Giroux said. "Tonight we played as a team. We did a good job of battling back a little at the end.
"We played a good game but we've got to find a way to win."
If the Flyers had handled the lesser teams as they should, there wouldn't even be a deficit in the standings to speak of. It would already be made up and valuable points to create separation would be at stake. It only makes the four-point deficit the Flyers still face even more of an uphill battle.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
