Flyers Set Up For Win-And-In Scenario vs. Hurricanes

TL;DR

The Philadelphia Flyers can secure a playoff spot with a win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night, following the elimination of the New York Islanders. The Flyers currently have 94 points and need just two more to clinch their place in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Philadelphia Flyers got all the help they could have possibly asked for, and now it's up to them to seal the deal and book their place in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. On Sunday night, with a brutal 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Islanders were officially eliminated from playoff contention. That leaves the Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals to vie for the last playoff spot--third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets lost 3-2 to a Boston Bruins team resting some of its players on Sunday night, putting them on the precipice of elimination as well. With a win over the Carolina Hurricanes at home at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Monday night, the Flyers can clinch themselves a playoff berth outright with no further strings attached.

Flyers Get Massive Playoff Help from Claude Giroux, Senators [Flyers Get Massive Playoff Help from Claude Giroux, Senators Even though he isn't on the Philadelphia Flyers anymore, Claude Giroux, with the help of his Ottawa Senators teammates, lent his former club a helping hand in their playoff race Saturday afternoon.](https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-get-massive-playoff-help-from-claude-giroux-senators) Because they have two more points than the Blue Jackets with a game still in hand, just one point from an overtime or shootout loss will allow the Flyers to knock Columbus out of the running. Then, it's down to Washington, who have 93 points in 81 games and can only reach a maximum of 95. The Flyers are sitting at 94 in 80 games, so their magic number is, obviously, two. A win or two overtime losses seals the deal for Philadelphia. In anticipation of Monday night's game against the Hurricanes, it's worth noting that Carolina was without Taylor Hall, Mark Jankowski, William Carrier, Jalen Chatfield, K'Andre Miller, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake in their most recent game--a 4-1 win over the Utah Mammoth.

Flyers Call Up David Jiricek In Surprise Move [Flyers Call Up David Jiricek In Surprise Move The Philadelphia Flyers have made a bit of a surprising transaction with their playoff push coming to its final few games, recalling top defense prospect David Jiricek from the AHL on Sunday afternoon.](https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-call-up-david-jiricek-in-surprise-move) The Hurricanes have already clinched first place in the Metropolitan Division and can clinch home-ice advantage and the Eastern Conference with one more point over their final two games, so they don't have all that much to play for while already resting some players.

Q&A

What do the Philadelphia Flyers need to do to make the playoffs?

The Flyers need to win against the Carolina Hurricanes or achieve two overtime losses to secure a playoff berth.

Who has been eliminated from playoff contention in the NHL?

The New York Islanders have been officially eliminated from playoff contention after their loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

What is the current playoff scenario for the Flyers and their competitors?

The Flyers are competing with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals for the last playoff spot, with the Flyers currently holding 94 points and needing two more to clinch.