Part of the discussion at lunch today in Newark concerned whether these two games against the Devils really are the be-all, end-all for the FLyers to make the playoffs.
I wrote on CSNPhilly.com this week that I feel the Flyers have to win 16 games to get to 57 points and a playoff spot.
Today, Eddie Olczyk told me he had done some calculating and came up with the same thing - 16 wins gets the Flyers in.
Now here's the rub. Given the way this team has performed all season, I don't see how the FLyers win 16 of their final 21 games. I think it's asking too much.
Ilya Bryzgalov said if the Flyers lose BOTH these games to the Devils this week, they are "done."
Not picking up a point last week in 3 key games is something the Flyers will look back upon this spring and kick themselves.
“We’ve got to start with one [win], it’s a real important week for us,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “I don’t like to coach two games – you can’t play both games, just one. Bryz has a valid point.
“It’s a big week facing the Devils. If you look at the standings, there are teams we need to be successful against.”
He expects an URGENT response by his club when the puck drops tonight here at Prudential Center.
“We’ve got to start with one [win], it’s a real important week for us,” Laviolette said. “I don’t like to coach two games – you can’t play both games, just one. Bryz has a valid point.
“It’s a big week facing the Devils. If you look at the standings, there are teams we need to be successful against.”
Now here's something else. A number of us remarked today that the Flyers seemed very subdued at their morning skate.
There was no chatter - nothing - on the ice. Stone quiet. They weren't shooting hard or skating very hard. It just had the feel of a laid back skate that could be interpreted two ways: they were totally focused on the task at hand or they are feeling enormous pressure to win this evening and were uptight.
“I think everybody understands what the stakes are and where we are at right now,” Danny Briere said. “My feeling is that since yesterday guys have been focused on this game.”
Laviolette said he felt there was some truth to my description of the skate but he said he had seen many energized skates where a team was flat at game time; and an equal number of poor skates where a team came out on fire once the game began.
There's pressure on a lotta folks right now. How this week unfolds could say much as to whether bigger changes in personnel or coaching come next.
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