How the Flyers’ Remaining Schedule Stacks up Against the Rest of the Metro
As teams head into the always important month of March, there are still many playoff spots to fill in a crowded Eastern Conference, especially in the Metropolitan Division.
Unlike the Atlantic where the two teams at the top, Boston and Tampa Bay are running away from the rest, how the Metropolitan Division will shake out is still to be determined.
With just 12 points separating the division-leading Washington Capitals (84 points) from the seventh-seeded New York Rangers (72 points), the month of March will be huge, obviously, for all of them as they fight for playoff spots and seeding for this spring’s race for the Cup.
For the Flyers, they’ve played themselves right into the heart of the Metropolitan race and sit in third place (as of 2/27). They’re the second-hottest team in the division at 7-3 in their last ten (behind the 8-2 Rangers) and playing their best hockey of the season.
But they can’t get comfortable just yet.
Photo: NHL.com
As it currently stands, there are just five points separating the Flyers from the first-place Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes – who are on the outside of the playoff picture.
With just under twenty games to play for all seven teams, let’s take a look at how the Flyers’ final stretch compares to the rest of the Metro (minus the Devils).
Next 10 Games
Remaining Games
Flyers
Current Record: 36-20-7 (79 points, 3rd in Metro)
Remaining Games: 19 (10 Home, 9 Away)
Against Teams:
- Above .500: 15
- Below .500: 4
Summary: The Flyers will play a fairly even split of home and away games in their final 19 games of the season.
Luckily, there are no road trips of longer than 2 games and they will only have to leave the Eastern Time Zone once for a two-game swing in Dallas and Nashville.
While they will be playing mostly teams above .500 and still in the playoff race, most will come within the confines of the Wells Fargo Center (9 at home, 6 on the road) where they have been dominant this year.
Capitals
Current Record: 39-18-6 (84 points, 1st in Metro)
Remaining Games: 19 (9 Home, 10 Away)
Against Teams:
- Above .500: 13
- Below .500: 6
Summary: A Washington team that was once looking like they would run away with division has found themselves in a heated race for the top spot recently with Pittsburgh even passing them for a day.
With a 4-5-1 stretch in their last 10, the Caps are still just four points ahead of the Penguins (who have lost four straight) and five in front of the streaking Flyers team.
In their final 19 games, they’ll be on the road for 10 of them which shouldn’t be much of an issue as they’ve actually been the best road team in the NHL with a league-leading 21 road wins.
Despite their recent struggles, they’re extremely healthy and should be the clear-cut favorites to win the Metropolitan for now.
Penguins
Current Record: 37-19-6 (80 points, 2nd in Metro)
Remaining Games: 20 (9 Home, 11 Away)
Against Teams:
- Above .500: 12
- Below .500: 8
Summary: Unfortunately for the Flyers, the Penguins will play eight games against teams under .500 including their next four (at Anaheim, at San Jose, home against Ottawa, and at Buffalo).
On the other hand, Pittsburgh is banged up right now with Jake Guentzel, Brian Dumoulin, Nick Bjugstad on IR and fourth-liners Zach Aston-Reese and Jared McCann out with day-to-day injuries.
With the injuries piling up, Pittsburgh is also losers of four straight with losses to Buffalo and Los Angeles.
With a game still in hand on the Flyers, their final 20 games will see them on the road 11 times where they haven’t been as good (15-13-2) as they are at home where they are tied with the Flyers with 22 home wins.
Islanders
Current Record: 35-20-7 (77 points)
Remaining Games: 20 (9 Home, 11 Away)
Against Teams:
- Above .500: 15
- Below .500: 5
Summary: The Islanders will be on the road for six of their next ten games which includes a three-game West Coast swing against Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton.
For what it’s worth their west coast trip, they went 0-3 back in late November with losses to San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim. So maybe its not just the Flyers who hate the west coast.
As for the strength of schedule, 10 of their next 11 games will all be against teams above .500 before they get some “should-be” layups against Buffalo, Chicago, and New Jersey (twice).
Blue Jackets
Current Record: 31-20-14 (76 points, 5th in Metro)
Remaining Games: 17 (7 Home, 10 Away)
Against Teams:
- Above .500: 16
- Below .500: 1
Summary: Talk about a team destroyed by injuries. As of right now, Columbus is without top defenseman Seth Jones, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Cam Atkinson, Josh Anderson, and Alexander Wennberg – all who were in CBJ’s top ten in scoring this season.
They have managed to stay in the race with a plethora of overtime/shootout losses despite winning just 1 of their last 10.
It doesn’t get any easier for them either as they play just one team below .500 (Devils). This comes after ten straight games against teams in the playoff race and then off their season with six games above .500 teams (4 on the road).
Hurricanes
Current Record: 35-23-4 (74 points, 6th in Metro)
Remaining Games: 20 (9 Home, 11 Away)
Against Teams:
- Above .500: 14
- Below .500: 6
Summary: With a mediocre 5-4-1 record in their last 10, Carolina has been hovering just outside the final wild-card spot.
A team that went to the Eastern Conference Final last spring, the Hurricanes have fallen victim to a tough Metropolitan Division as they sit in sixth place in the Metro.
Carolina will play 7 of their next 10 on the road including a six-game road swing where they will get cracks at three teams ahead of them in the standings (Flyers, Penguins, and Islanders).
After their long road trip, they’ll get two more shots at the Penguins, two games against Boston, and a matchup with the Central Division-leading Blues.
Some tough waters ahead for Carolina.
Rangers
Current Record: 34-24-4 (72 points, 7th in Metro)
Remaining Games: 20 (9 Home, 11 Away)
Against Teams:
- Above .500: 17
- Below .500: 3
Summary: The hottest team in the Metropolitan (and the Eastern Conference), the Rangers have played themselves back into the playoff race going 8-2 in their last 10.
The Rangers are looking dangerous as they climb the standings and the Flyers will get to see it first-hand this weekend with a home-and-home. They will get plenty of chances to move up in the standings with nine games against teams ahead of them in the Metropolitan including three against the Flyers and three against Pittsburgh.
With a red-hot Artemi Panarin, the Rangers may just be able to snag a wild card spot. Especially, if the Blue Jackets keep dropping.
Featured Image: NHL.com
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