News Article: Charting the Flyers' Narrow Paths to the Playoffs

[Rich Nixon]

File under "possible, but improbable." But in both 2016 and 2018, the Flyers went 17-7-5 in their final 29 games to make the playoffs. That same record would give them 93 points, likely not enough to make the cut for this season. Slightly better, though, and they could feasibly sneak in again.

Flyers’ Playoff Path Is Narrow

Here's all the possible records they'd have to compile to reach 94+ points, starting tonight:

94 points	95 points	96 points	97 points	98 points
20-9-0	20-8-1	21-8-0	21-7-1	22-7-0
19-8-2	19-7-3	20-7-2	20-6-3	21-6-2
18-7-4	18-6-5	19-6-4	19-5-5	19-4-6
17-6-6	17-5-7	18-5-6	18-4-7	18-3-8
16-5-8	16-4-9	17-4-8	17-3-9	17-2-10
15-4-10	15-3-11	16-3-10	16-2-11	16-1-12
14-3-12	14-2-13	14-1-14	15-1-13	15-0-14
13-2-14	13-1-15	13-0-16	14-0-15
12-1-16	12-0-17
11-0-18

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I also looked into the schedule breakdown a bit, and Hakstol's love of OT games.

So, while it's very unlikely, it's something that they've come close to doing before. If they don't entirely sink themselves in the next couple weeks, the biggest game of the season will be February 28th against the Blue Jackets.

Sorry for the jinx, but a writer's gotta write: click click!

Click to read more...

 

[Starat327]

Arent we supposed to be talking about how were gonna lose to we can have an 18% chance at a player who has a chance to be an impact player?

 

[Rebels57]

Good stuff!

 

[Rich Nixon]

Arent we supposed to be talking about how were gonna lose to we can have an 18% chance at a player who has a chance to be an impact player?

I mean, we should be, but I'm not a real fan so I can't think long-term like that.

 

[Starat327]

I mean, we should be, but I'm not a real fan so I can't think long-term like that.

Ill never understand why people like you want to wallow in mediocrity for years. Hughes is the only answer.

 

[Rich Nixon]

Ill never understand why people like you want to wallow in mediocrity for years. Hughes is the only answer.

No team with two Florida-born players on the roster has ever failed to win the Stanley Cup, so I can see where the Hughes logic comes in.

 

[Starat327]

No team with two Florida-born players on the roster has ever failed to win the Stanley Cup, so I can see where the Hughes logic comes in.

Exactly. Hughes is going to win the hart this year without even being in the league, so we have to get him.

 

[RonHextall27]

22-7-0 has a nice ring to it! Win 3 of every 4.

 

[tucson83]

Ill never understand why people like you want to wallow in mediocrity for years. Hughes is the only answer.

depth wins championships yes i have gone 180 on this. hughes isnt going to change this team, it's not one guy, it's all four lines, i mean if you look at the Washington series last year, ovi didnt score the game winner, it was Lars Eller, ovi played well but he wasnt the reason why they won the cup, it's depth players that stepped up. the kings didnt have a superstar when they won their two stanley cups, it's all four lines that stepped up.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

depth wins championships yes i have gone 180 on this. hughes isnt going to change this team, it's not one guy, it's all four lines, i mean if you look at the Washington series last year, ovi didnt score the game winner, it was Lars Eller, ovi played well but he wasnt the reason why they won the cup, it's depth players that stepped up. the kings didnt have a superstar when they won their two stanley cups, it's all four lines that stepped up.

Ovechkin had 15 goals in 24 games. He was a pretty good reason they won. Not the sole but played a large part.

 

[hatcher]

depth wins championships yes i have gone 180 on this. hughes isnt going to change this team, it's not one guy, it's all four lines, i mean if you look at the Washington series last year, ovi didnt score the game winner, it was Lars Eller, ovi played well but he wasnt the reason why they won the cup, it's depth players that stepped up. the kings didnt have a superstar when they won their two stanley cups, it's all four lines that stepped up.

the top players win or lose on those teams were the scoring leaders though. Until g and v wanna show something in playoffs we aren't going far. I agree though all players to win the cup have to be in and playing at a high level.

 

[hatcher]

Ovechkin had 15 goals in 24 games. He was a pretty good reason they won. Not the sole but played a large part.

He was a power house.

 

[BernieParent]

Thanks for doing this, Mr. Coffee. I will put my small stack of chips on 19-6-4, capped off by a shootout win against Carolina. Nolan Patrick gets the winner.

 

[tucson83]

the top players win or lose on those teams were the scoring leaders though. Until g and v wanna show something in playoffs we aren't going far. I agree though all players to win the cup have to be in and playing at a high level.

vegas as well although they didnt win.

 

[Starat327]

depth wins championships yes i have gone 180 on this. hughes isnt going to change this team, it's not one guy, it's all four lines, i mean if you look at the Washington series last year, ovi didnt score the game winner, it was Lars Eller, ovi played well but he wasnt the reason why they won the cup, it's depth players that stepped up. the kings didnt have a superstar when they won their two stanley cups, it's all four lines that stepped up.

Wait. LA didnt have a superstar when they won their cups?

Actually, no. youre right. they didnt have a superstar when they won their cups.

they had 3.

 

[tucson83]

Wait. LA didnt have a superstar when they won their cups?

Actually, no. youre right. they didnt have a superstar when they won their cups.

they had 3.

actually it was quick and all four lines stepped up.

 

[Starat327]

actually it was quick and all four lines stepped up.

You mean to tell me Doughty wasnt a superstar? Kopitar isnt a superstar?

Yes, the whole team played well, yes. but you said the Kings didnt have a superstar - and they certainly did. Now if youre saying that one person didnt carry the team to the cup, that'd id agree with. But to say that they didnt have a superstar isnt something i can get on board with.

 

[hatcher]

I built flyers west and now with fletcher's help I'll build LA east for you all that has it all boys.

 

[Adam Warlock]

Last year was nuts. I remember us, Nj, Columbus, and florida pretty much winning ever night fighting for 3 spots.

I dont doubt the Flyers can get to 93 points...the question is what will it take to get in the playoffs?

Last year it was 97...this year hopefully will be lower.

 

[Rich Nixon]

Last year was nuts. I remember us, Nj, Columbus, and florida pretty much winning ever night fighting for 3 spots.

I dont doubt the Flyers can get to 93 points...the question is what will it take to get in the playoffs?

Last year it was 97...this year hopefully will be lower.

The team with the best shot, Columbus, is right on pace for 96. They have all the tiebreakers over the Flyers, so unless they slip up a bit, it'll be 97+. A lot of hockey left for them, the Sabres, and Hurricanes to play though.

The Flyers' schedule is pretty rough, 9 games against Islanders/ Penguins/Capitals (3 each), visits with Toronto and Tampa...

They just need to take every easy win they can get, which includes tonight, Saturday, another game against the Sens, and the home-and-home with Detroit. There's only 12 games against non-playoff teams left, I think you have to win at least 8-9 of those and then 10-12 of the 17 games against decent/good teams. Toss in a few OT losses and you're probably good to go. 19-5-5 would almost certainly do it, if two of those 19 are against Carolina and Columbus.

 

[forzanerazzurri]

depth wins championships yes i have gone 180 on this. hughes isnt going to change this team, it's not one guy, it's all four lines, i mean if you look at the Washington series last year, ovi didnt score the game winner, it was Lars Eller, ovi played well but he wasnt the reason why they won the cup, it's depth players that stepped up. the kings didnt have a superstar when they won their two stanley cups, it's all four lines that stepped up.

This team as is even with all the kids is not guaranteed to be a contender in the coming years. You still need your franchise players. If you add Hughes in the off-season this team, assuming the rest of the kids develop as planned goes from being a bubble playoff team in 2020-21 to a legitimate cup contender.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

I just want to see the young guys continue to play well and improving each night. Continue to see Hart blossom in front of our eyes each night.
Anything else is just gravy

 

[Appleyard]

92 might be enough statistically.

Unlikely, but not a crazy low chance.

Philadelphia Flyers Playoff Chances - Sports Club Stats

 

[Beef Invictus]

I just want to see the young guys continue to play well and improving each night. Continue to see Hart blossom in front of our eyes each night.
Anything else is just gravy

Hart and Sanheim coming around with Patrick asserting himself is leaves me extremely gruntled.

 

[Rich Nixon]

So, 0-0-1 since the chart. I might alter/update it if the boys don't go into a complete tailspin and make it irrelevant.