Jesper Bratt
After giving up two power-play goals in the first and two more in the third period, the Flyers playoff hopes are officially gone. A 5-3 loss to the Devils coupled with a 5-2 win by the Bruins eliminated the Flyers on Thursday night.
As the Flyers face the Devils for the third time this week, a loss of any kind by the Flyers and a win of any kind by the Boston Bruins against the Buffalo Sabres will officially eliminate the Flyers from playoff contention.
The four-game series between the Flyers and Devils now heads to New Jersey for the next two games, starting with Tuesday night’s game, as both teams begin their final two weeks of play for the 2020-21 season.
After playing deep into the third period with relatively uninspired play, two quick goals by the captain turned the game around and forced overtime. Following the overtime, Kevin Hayes scored the game-winning goal in the sixth round, giving the Flyers a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Devils on Sunday night at Wells Fargo Center.
Five of the nine remaining games, including the next four in a row, will come against the New Jersey Devils, who come to Philadelphia on Sunday night for the first game.
The only thing consistent about the Flyers right now is their ability to be inconsistent. One night, you get a decent effort. The next, you get an embarrassing effort. And on a night when you needed to build on that effort, needed to turn it into a win, needed to start getting things back on the rails right away, the Flyers were as flat as can be.
It may be March, but it sure feels like the Flyers are stuck on Groundhog Day. Tuesday’s game against the Devils certainly was recognizable. The Flyers fell behind due to a lack of urgency and puck management, only to claw back to within one goal late before time ran out. It’s happened at least three times this month now, with the latest installment coming in a 4-3 loss to the Devils.
With two straight losses following a three-game winning streak, the Flyers made some roster adjustments and look to get back on the winning track against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
The Flyers got a pair of goals from James van Riemsdyk and Travis Konecny on the way to a 6-3 win over the Devils on Friday night.
The Flyers don’t get any time to wallow in the overtime loss from Thursday night. On Friday, they get right back on the ice to face the New Jersey Devils.
