Brian Elliott
For teams like the Flyers, the first focus of the offseason is on yourself, the players and moves you can control. For the Flyers, those moves center around several pending free agents that will need new contracts.
The Flyers season is over, and it sets up for an interesting offseason for GM Chuck Fletcher, one that begins now that the season is over and will carry over throughout the summer and as the 2019-20 season approaches.
In total, eight goals were scored in the first period between the two teams, including seven in the first 9:41 of the game, as the Flyers fell into a 5-2 deficit by the midpoint of the first period on the way to a 7-3 defeat to the Blues on Thursday night.
There are just two games left on the Flyers schedule, including one final game away from home which the Flyers will play on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues.
Two weeks ago, the Flyers had closed the gap to a playoff spot from 16 points to three points. In the seven games since, they have gone just 2-5-0 as a difficult schedule simply became too much.
The Flyers were defeated by the Capitals, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon.
It became a night to forget for the Flyers, as what remains of their playoff hopes took a massive hit with a 7-6 loss to the Maple Leafs on Friday night.
The Flyers continue a crucial three-game stretch on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that they have not faced since Nov. 24, two days before Ron Hextall was fired as GM.
The Senators made things interested with a late goal, but the Flyers held on for a 3-2 win. Coupled with Columbus’ 2-0 loss to the Islanders, the Flyers moved to within three points of a playoff spot with the win.
The Flyers didn’t get much help in the playoff race, but did close the margin to five points with another convincing win over the Islanders, and the margin will remain until the team takes the ice again on Monday night.
