Quick Hits: April 8, 2024

1) Trying to pick up of the pieces of what has been a disastrous two weeks of winless hockey that has seen the Flyers go 0-5-2 and topple from automatic playoff position (third in the Metropolitan Division) to a longshot for the lower wildcard seed, the Flyers will hold an 11 a.m. EDT practice on Monday at the FTC in Voorhees. Afterwards, the team will fly to Montreal. On Tuesday, the Flyers will play the Canadiens.

2) Here's where things stand: The Flyers blew their many opportunities to control their own destiny -- although one could argue that the team already did just that by not taking advantages of all the mulligans they were given before finally being overtaken in the playoff standings. Every team the Flyers are now chasing for a playoff holds a game in hand and/or a tiebreaker advantage with four of five games left to play.

With the Flyers idle on the schedule on Monday, they need the Toronto Maple Leafs to earn a home regulation win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. IF that happens, the Penguins will still hold a tiebreaker edge (31 regulation wins to 28) but the teams will be even in both points (83) and games played (78).

On Tuesday, for anything else to matter, the Flyers need to take care of their own business against the Canadiens. That's something they failed resoundingly to do last time in Montreal, at home against Chicago, at home against the Islanders, on the road against the Buffalo Sabres or even in Columbus against a Blue Jackets team that was missing 10 players.

If the Flyers do pull things together enough to beat the Habs, they will need the New York Ranges to beat the Islanders via regulation win in Elmont.  The Flyers and Islanders would be even again in points (85) and Philly will still hold a tiebreaker edge but the Islanders will still be ahead by virtue of points percentage (one game in hand).

Also on Tuesday, the Capitals are on the road to play the Red Wings; meaning that one team is guaranteed to get two points. If Detroit goes to 86 points, they're still a point ahead of the Flyers even if the Flyers win. If Washington wins, they're still of the Flyers via points percentage (one game in hand).

No games affecting the Flyers will be played on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Flyers visit the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, the Canadiens visit the Islanders, the Red Wings visit the Penguins and the Capitals visit the Sabres.

3) On the Mondays with Meltzer edition of Flyers Daily, Jason Myrtetus and I try to untangle the mess the Flyers have made of the stretch drive. We delve into root causes -- goaltending, struggles on both ends of special teams, injury attrition, the Sean Walker trade, etc. -- and answer a slew of listener questions. The program is divided into two parts. Part one is available today.



4) The Phantoms missed a golden opportunity on Sunday to solidify their lead over the Springfield Thunderbirds in the race for the final Calder Cup playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. The Phantoms suffered a 5-1 road loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins; thereby failing to take advantage of the game in hand they held over Springfield. The Phantoms remain four points (67 points to 63) ahead in the standings. Both teams have five remaining games. Springfields holds a 21 to 18 regulation win edge in the event of a points tie.

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