Philly Front Office

UPDATED: All figures and schedules current through March 22

About 2 weeks ago I wrote that the Flyers need to get busy living or get busy dying. In winning 5 of 6 and 9 of 12, it looks like they chose the former (until I publish this and jinx them). With 13 games to play, they are 5 points out of the playoffs but in the thick of a very tightly packed race. How tight? There are 9 teams within 6 points of 5 playoff spots. Unfortunately, we are still on the outside looking in, but let’s look to see how realistic things are for the Flyers and the other 8 teams.

One More Month of the Flyers…Probably? Maybe?

Playoff Picture

For the uninitiated, the NHL playoff format takes the top three teams from each division in each conference¹ then the next two teams with the highest point total for eight teams total per conference. The Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes currently lead the two divisions with the Tampa Bay Lightning in close pursuit in the Atlantic Division. The other five slots include one in the Atlantic, two in the Metropolitan division and the two Wild Cards.

Flyers (M) – 80 Points – 12.7% Chance of Playoffs

Right now, things do not seem great for the orange and black, but the schedule makes them a team of destiny. With 8 of their final 13 games against the direct competition, the Flyers can force their way into the playoffs despite their current position on the outside. None of the nine contenders play that many.

• Head to Heads: 8
  • vs Blue Jackets – 3/24
  • at Red Wings – 3/28
  • at Capitals – 3/31
  • vs Red Wings – 4/2
  • at Islanders – 4/3
  • vs Bruins – 4/5
  • at Red Wings 4/9
  • vs Canadians 4/14
• Stronger Opponents: 2
  • vs Dallas Stars – 3/29
  • vs Carolina Hurricanes – 4/13
• Weaker Opponents: 3
  • vs Chicago Blackhawks – 3/26
  • at New Jersey Devils – 4/7
  • at Winnipeg Jets – 4/11

Individual Teams

The following are profiles of the nine teams with updated points and playoff odds. CLICK for remaining schedule…

Montreal Canadians (Atlantic) – 86 Points – 82% Chance of Playoffs

• Head to Heads: 4
  • vs Blue Jackets – 3/26
  • vs Blue Jackets – 4/11
  • at Islanders – 4/12
  • at Flyers – 4/14
• Stronger Opponents: 4
  • vs Carolina Hurricanes – 3/24
  • at Carolina Hurricanes – 3/29
  • at Tampa Bay Lightning – 3/31
  • vs Tampa Bay Lightning – 4/9
• Weaker Opponents: 5
  • at Nashville Predators – 3/28
  • at New York Rangers – 4/2
  • at New Jersey Devils – 4/4
  • vs New Jersey Devils – 4/5
  • vs Florida Panthers – 4/7

Pittsburgh Penguins (Metro) – 86 Points – 78.5% Chance of Playoffs

• Head to Heads: 5
  • at Senators – 3/26
  • at Islanders – 3/30
  • vs Red Wings – 3/31
  • vs Capitals 4/11
  • at Capitals – 4/12
• Stronger Opponents: 3
  • vs Colorado Avalanche – 3/24
  • vs Dallas Stars – 3/28
  • at Tampa Bay Lightning – 4/2
• Weaker Opponents: 4
  • vs Florida Panthers 4/4
  • vs Florida Panthers 4/5
  • at New Jersey Devils 4/9
  • at St. Louis Blues 4/14

Columbus Blue Jackets (M) – 85 Points – 76.2% Chance of Playoffs

• Head to Heads: 7
  • at Flyers – 3/24
  • at Canadians – 3/26
  • vs Bruins – 3/29
  • at Red Wings – 4/7
  • at Canadians – 4/11
  • vs Bruins – 4/12
  • vs Capitals – 4/14
• Stronger Opponents: 3
  • vs Carolina Panthers – 3/31
  • at Carolina Panthers – 4/2
  • at Buffalo Sabres – 4/9
• Weaker Opponents: 2
  • vs San Jose Sharks – 3/28
  • vs Winnipeg Jets 4/4

Boston Bruins (A) – 86 points – 75.1% Chance of Playoffs

• Head to Heads: 3
  • at Blue Jackets – 3/29
  • at Flyers – 4/5
  • at Blue Jackets – 4/12
• Stronger Opponents: 6
  • at Buffalo Sabres – 3/25
  • vs Minnesota Wild – 3/28
  • vs Dallas Stars – 3/31
  • at Tampa Bay Lightning – 4/4
  • at Carolina Hurricanes – 4/7
  • vs Tampa Bay Lightning – 4/11
• Weaker Opponents:3
  • vs Toronto Maple Leafs – 3/24
  • at Florida Panthers – 4/2
  • vs New Jersey Devils – 4/14

Detroit Red Wings (A) – 84 Points – 57.9% Chance of Playoffs

• Head to Heads: 6
  • vs Senators – 3/24
  • vs Flyers – 3/28
  • at Penguins – 3/31
  • at Flyers – 4/2
  • vs Blue Jackets – 4/7
  • vs Flyers – 4/9
• Stronger Opponents: 3
  • at Buffalo Sabres – 3/27
  • vs Minnesota Wild – 4/5
  • at Tampa Bay Lightning – 4/13
• Weaker Opponents: 3
  • at New York Rangers – 4/4
  • vs New Jersey Devils – 4/11
  • at Florida Panthers – 4/15

New York Islanders (M) – 85 Points – 57.1% Chance of Playoffs

• Head to Heads: 4
  • vs Penguins – 3/30
  • vs Flyers – 4/3
  • vs Senators – 4/11
  • vs Canadians – 4/12
• Stronger Opponents: 4
  • vs Dallas Stars – 3/26
  • at Buffalo Sabres – 3/31
  • at Carolina Hurricanes – 4/4
  • vs Carolina Hurricanes – 4/14
• Weaker Opponents: 3
  • vs Chicago Blackhawks – 3/24
  • vs Florida Panthers – 3/28
  • vs Toronto Maple Leafs – 4/9

Ottawa Senators (A) – 81 Points – 54.6% Chance of Playoffs

• Head to Heads: 3
  • at Red Wings – 3/24
  • vs Penguins – 3/26
  • at Islanders – 4/11
• Stronger Opponents: 5
  • at Tampa Bay Lightning – 3/28
  • vs Buffalo Sabres – 4/2
  • vs Minnesota Wild – 4/4
  • vs Carolina Hurricanes – 4/5
  • vs Tampa Bay Lightning – 4/7
• Weaker Opponents: 5
  • at New York Rangers – 3/23
  • at Florida Panthers – 3/31
  • vs Florida Panthers – 4/9
  • at New Jersey Devils – 4/12
  • vs Toronto Maple Leafs – 4/15

Philadelphia Flyers (M) – 80 Points – 12.7% Chance of Playoffs

• Head to Heads: 8
  • vs Blue Jackets – 3/24
  • at Red Wings – 3/28
  • at Capitals – 3/31
  • vs Red Wings – 4/2
  • at Islanders – 4/3
  • vs Bruins – 4/5
  • at Red Wings 4/9
  • vs Canadians 4/14
• Stronger Opponents: 2
  • vs Dallas Stars – 3/29
  • vs Carolina Hurricanes – 4/13
• Weaker Opponents: 3
  • vs Chicago Blackhawks – 3/26
  • at New Jersey Devils – 4/7
  • at Winnipeg Jets – 4/11

Washington Capitals (M) – 79 Points – 6.1% Chance of Playoffs

• Head to Heads: 4
  • vs Flyers – 3/31
  • at Penguins – 4/11
  • vs Penguins – 4/12
  • at Blue Jackets – 4/14
• Stronger Opponents: 2
  • at Utah Mammoth – 3/26
  • vs Buffalo Sabres – 4/4
• Weaker Opponents: 5
  • at St. Louis Blues – 3/24
  • at Las Vegas Golden Knights – 3/28
  • at New Jersey Devils – 4/2
  • at New York Rangers – 4/5
  • at Toronto Maple Leafs – 4/8

Playoff Odds: Moneypuck.com

Photo: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

1. This year the East is much more competitive than the West considering the Flyers current 80 point total would be good for 5th on the other side. ↩︎