Despite overwhelming odds, despite openly trying to tank and selling off one of their best defensemen at the deadline, the Flyers look like they might actually make the playoffs.
In fact, some would say that it would be a massive disappointment if the Flyers missed the dance after holding the third spot in the Metro for the majority of the regular season. They have been good enough, and consistent enough, to put themselves in pole position for a playoff race that could hang in the balance until the very last day of the season.
Still, they are far from perfect. The sheer talent on some of the other true cup contenders dwarf whatever little star-power the Flyers possess, and in order to really have a chance at making anything more than a brief cameo in the postseason, the Flyers have a few things that they must do if they are going to have any chance to compete against teams who actually expected to be in this position when the season started.
Be in a Rush
Much of the Flyers success this year can be attributed to their ability to turn teams over in the neutral or defensive zone, and go the other way with speed and efficiency. Head Coach John Tortorella mentioned multiple times earlier on in the year that the Flyers needed to evolve and stop relying so heavily on rush opportunities, but simply put, it may be all they have against structured, elite opposition.
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