Scoreboard Watching: Sunday’s Slate is the Most Impactful Day on Flyers Playoff Push

Kyle Ross-Imagn ImagesKyle Ross-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Flyers pushed their point total to 94 points, and their magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now 3 points after Saturday’s action.

The playoff race has shrunk, with the Atlantic Division now being the final, with 5 teams making it into the postseason. That means that the Metropolitan Division still has four teams all fighting for one spot, the 3rd seed in the Metropolitan. The Flyers currently hold that position, but the Blue Jackets, Islanders, and Capitals are all on their tails.

All four teams were in play on Saturday. As we’ve mentioned, the Flyers won. They needed an Islanders, Capitals, and Blue Jackets loss on Saturday for a chance to clinch on Sunday. Only the Islanders lost. That takes Sunday out as an option for the Flyers to clinch a spot in the postseason.

Here is an updated look at the standings.

With each team having played 80 games, there are 4 points left on the table for all. The Flyers’ lead is just two points since the Blue Jackets won on Saturday.

Despite not playing, the Sunday slate is just as jam-packed with impactful games for the Flyers’ postseason. All three of the Blue Jackets, Islanders, and Capitals are in action. Sunday is off the table for clinching, but if the cards fall right, Monday could still be a possibility.

Here is how.

Read More: Flyers Postgame Blog: Statement Win; Vladar Bounces Back; Vintage Couturier

Rooting guide for Flyers Monday clinching scenario

The Flyers have 94 points. It’s a two-point lead on the Blue Jackets, and a three-point lead on the Islanders and Capitals. After Sunday, all three teams will have just two points left on the table. There is the chance that the Flyers could end up with the ability to clinch with a point on Monday. At the same time, if the Blue Jackets could tie them for their playoff spot with a win, but the fewer games tiebreaker would keep the Flyers in the spot.

Let’s look at the scenarios.

As always, the bold team is the best-case-scenario winning team for the Flyers.

Sunday Rooting Guide

Penguins (98, M2) @ Capitals (91, M4) – 3:00 pm EST
Canadiens (104, A3) @ Islanders (91, M5) – 6:00 pm EST
Bruins (96, WC2) @ Blue Jackets (92, M4) – 6:00 pm EST

The Penguins held their players battling bumps and bruises out of their lineup on Saturday against Washington. Could they do it again on Sunday?

The Canadiens Saturday loss to the Blue Jackets hurt the Flyers. It also hurt their chances at claiming the top spot in the Atlantic. Montreal and Tampa Bay are tied at 104, and Buffalo has the top spot at 106. Tampa Bay has the tiebreaker over Montreal, so they’re fighting it out for home ice in round one.

The Bruins’ ticket is punched. However, they have fallen out of the top Wild Card spot and are now in the second. If the season ended today, that sets them up with a date in Raleigh against the Hurricanes. Would they prefer the Sabers or whoever wins the Atlantic? That’s what the Bruins are playing for right now. Is that enough for a full effort vs. Columbus?

Let’s look at the possible outcomes and how they affect the Flyers’ playoff push.

Possible Outcomes

If the Islanders, Capitals, or both teams lose in regulation on Sunday, they are eliminated from the postseason race. At 91 points, there is no possible way they could catch the Flyers at 94 points in the standings with only one game remaining.

If the Blue Jackets lose in regulation on Sunday, they remain alive in the race, but the Flyers’ magic number becomes just 1 point with two games remaining to clinch a postseason position. An overtime loss for the Islanders, Capitals, or both would have the same result.

As mentioned before, a Blue Jackets win ties the Flyers at 94 points, but since Philly will have played fewer games, the tiebreaker keeps them in the playoff spot. That would also push things to the final day of the season. As a reminder, the Blue Jackets play the Capitals, and the Flyers play the Canadiens.

A Blue Jackets overtime loss would put them at 93 points, making the Flyers’ magic number 2. If the Islanders, Capitals, or both win, the magic number would be 2 as well.

The best-case scenario is that each team loses in regulation, and the Flyers need just a point. However, you cannot rely on that.

Though the Islanders and Capitals are still alive, a win from either of them does not stop the Flyers from clinching on Monday. That means all eyes should be on the Bruins @ Blue Jackets game, as it’s the most impactful for the Flyers’ playoff push.

Read More: The Flyers Youth is Leading the Push for a Playoff Spot

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