The season is on the line for the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. Either they win, and a bunch of other things happen that gets them into the playoffs, or they lose and are instantly eliminated from playoff contention in the final game of the year.
Having such a high-stakes game in Game 82 is exciting and terrifying at the same time, but for the team themselves, they are taking it all as gravy. No one expected them to be even competitive and here they find themselves with something to play for in the last hour of regular-season hockey.
Flyers head coach John Tortorella made it clear that this team will have no regrets how they played this season, playoffs or not.
When the bench boss was asked by PHLY’s Charlie O’Connor if players can keep their heads held high, even if they miss getting into the playoffs this week, with limited regrets heading into the summer, there was a surefire answer.
“Absolutely,” Tortorella said. “No matter what anyone says, if we don’t succeed in getting in — absolutely, and I’ll make sure they understand that. They already know my feelings about that, as far as what this team is about. I’m proud of them. No matter what happens tonight, I’m excited about how they handle themselves, I’m excited about some of the growth; excited about hopefully getting an opportunity (in the playoffs), but if not, where we go in the future. No matter what the result is tonight, that’s not going to change in my mind.”
Of course, this team is focused more on the future than any present rendition of the Flyers, and with that in mind, is it good for the team to be in this crucial game? Instead of young players soiling away on other rebuilding teams at the bottom of the standings, is it so much better for them to potentially face a whole lot of criticism if they get so close and miss the playoffs?
“That’s good for them. Some of the scrutiny was brought on to the team, not in a good light. It’s beyond me, I heard the word ‘quit’. Not a chance. I’ll tell you right now, there wasn’t a goddamned second where those guys quit,” Tortorella added.
“You have to be really careful how to use that word, no matter what context you want to put it in — they didn’t quit for a second. But for them to hear it, for them to be questioned, all of us, that’s part of the process. You don’t complain about it, you go about your business, but you learn how to handle those types of situations. Really important for a really young group out there.”
In the moment, all we are able to think about is the Flyers potentially missing the playoffs after being so close in the very last second. Whatever happens on Tuesday night won’t say a whole lot about the future of this team, but it would just be nice to see some more high-stakes hockey played into the spring and not face an early offseason yet again.
It’s all bonuses, but right now, it just feels more real than before. And hopefully, some players like Owen Tippett, Joel Farabee, and Tyson Foerster, will be able to join the next, truly competitive Flyers team, as well.
