Sports Talk Philly: Philadelphia Sports News and Rumors

Flyers-Maple Leafs: Game 77 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

With back-to-back losses over the weekend, it is over for the Flyers, who will fall out of the playoff race mathematically sometime in the coming days. With that, the final days of the season will be about trying to finish strong and getting a look at players who may have not seen the ice recently.

The Flyers first opponent in the final six games is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Just 12 days earlier, Toronto delivered a blow to the Flyers playoff chances by rallying from down 5-2 for a 7-6 win.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Bailey's 2 Late Goals Sink Flyers

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers did not have the desperation. They did not have the energy. They simply could not match the Islanders play throughout the game. But with under five minutes to play in the third period, they appeared to have momentum and certainly a chance, locked in a 2-2 game where all sorts of adversity had reared its head.

Josh Bailey put an end to all of that with the final two shots of the game for the Islanders.

Bailey scored with 3:57 to play in the third to put the Islanders ahead and added another goal 1:23 later to seal a 4-2 win for the Islanders that all but ended the Flyers playoff hopes on Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center.

Flyers-Islanders: Game 75 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers remained alive in the playoff race with a win in Chicago on Thursday that moved them to within five points of a playoff spot. They will have a chance to cut that to three before the scoreboard watching begins on Saturday night.

The Flyers host the Islanders in a Saturday matinee and another game where their own result matters first before turning to watch the rest of the playoff hopefuls take the ice on Saturday night.

Game time is at 1 p.m.

Flyers-Blackhawks: Game 74 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Time is running out on the Flyers with just nine games remaining on the schedule. Tuesday's loss to Montreal was quite possibly the knockout blow to their playoff hopes.

Any hint of what remains of those hopes rests on the next game in front of the team. That comes on Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Game time is at 8:30 p.m.

Flyers-Canadiens: Postgame Review

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

When you get into the position the Flyers were in entering Tuesday night, every game becomes a must-win, but this was especially true against the Montreal Canadiens, a team the Flyers were trailing in the standings.

When it came down to it, the Flyers ran out of gas. Montreal was the hungrier team early, opened up the lead and let their goaltender do the rest. The regulation loss pushed the Flyers further back in the chase for the playoffs, and likely closed the book on an unlikely comeback.

Price, Canadiens Send Flyers to Brink with Loss

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers were facing a similar situation to Sunday in the final minutes of the third period. The goalie was pulled and the Flyers had one final chance to find an equalizer.

There would be no magical comeback on this night. The Flyers were never able to solve the Canadiens at even strength and Montreal claimed a 3-1 win over the Flyers on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center.

Flyers-Canadiens: Game 73 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It took another last-second comeback win over the Penguins, but the Flyers barely remained alive in the playoff race. Their next game gives them a direct chance to breathe some life into those hopes.

The Flyers face the Montreal Canadiens on home ice to kick off the final 10 games on the schedule, having split the first two meetings of the season in Montreal.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Flyers-Maple Leafs: Game 71 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The start of a demanding weekend on the Flyers schedule did not start off well with a 5-2 loss to Washington at home on Thursday night. Now the Flyers have to take to the road and find a way to win against two tough opponents to keep their playoff hopes alive.

It starts on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that Flyers have not faced since Nov. 24, two days before Ron Hextall was fired as GM.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Flyers-Capitals: Game 70 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

For one night, the Flyers had closed the gap to three points of the final wildcard spot before Tuesday provided the harsh reminder that scoreboard watching can be agonizing. 

The Flyers enter Thursday's game, their 70th of the season, with a five-point deficit in the standings once again. It could be three again by the end of the night if they get help from the Islanders again and take care of business, but that is easier said than done against the division leaders who also made things look very easy in their trip to Philadelphia last week.

The Washington Capitals return to Wells Fargo Center as the Flyers look to keep the momentum going after back-to-back wins.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Flyers May Have Another Late-Round Draft Gem in Kase

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Jeff Quake, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

During the NHL Draft, the later into the rounds, the harder it is to find the talent. However, the Philadelphia Flyers are one of the better teams to find young talent especially outside of North America.

From Oskar Lindblom (138th overall in 2014) to Mikhail Vorobyev (104th overall in 2015), the Flyers have now found another young riser in David Kase (128th overall in 2015), the brother of current young star of Ondrej Kase of the Anaheim Ducks.