Flyers edge Caps in potential playoff preview

The Philadelphia Flyers picked up two big points in the standings by earning a 2-1 shootout win over the Washington Capitals. Despite the low score line, these two potential playoff combatants put together an extremely competitive, compelling game. Perhaps we’ll see more of the same in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The two teams were both held off the scoreboard in the first two periods before Alex Ovechkin scored his 44th goal of the season just 1:28 into the third period. The Flyers couldn’t seem to solve Braden Holtby, who is chasing Martin Brodeur’s single-season wins record.

Finally, with 5:28 to go in regulation, Claude Giroux sent a hopeful shot towards the net and Brayden Schenn was there for a perfect deflection up and over Holtby to tie the game.

There were more tense moments throught the game, including an overtime penalty kill for the Flyers after Wayne Simmonds was whistled for tripping. They got the kill and survived a few scares along the way to force the game into a shootout.

Led by goaltender Steve Mason and both of Philadelphia’s first two shooters — Nick Cousins and Sam Gagner — scoring on Holtby, the Flyers nabbed the extra point to create a little breathing room in the playoff race.

Here are three things to know about Wednesday’s big win for the Flyers.

1. If these teams end up playing each other in the playoffs, it could be a brutal series

Wednesday night’s game was mostly officiated like a playoff game. A lot was let go through the first two periods and some stuff was just plain missed, but these two teams were engaged in a physical, tense affair. Things got chippy between these two teams and the officiating tightened up just a little bit late in the game. Still, this was not your run-of-the-mill regular-season game.

Even though the Capitals already have the Presidents’ Trophy wrapped up, they were playing every bit as hard as the Flyers were with their playoff lives on the line. Maybe it was to send a message. If the playoffs started tomorrow, the two teams would be meeting in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Either way, it almost felt like the series started Wednesday night.

There were definitely some tensions between the two teams. Sometimes that materialized in some ugly moments, like Jason Chimera‘s subtle butt-end that dropped rookie Shayne Gostisbehere that went uncalled:

There was also Claude Giroux’s hit on Nicklas Backstrom away from the puck – also uncalled:

Caps defenseman Matt Niskanen delivered a high cross check into the boards that shook up Giroux. That actually was called.

This list could go on and there was a lot of the usual jawing between the two teams. Even the TV mics faintly picked up some chatter between Wayne Simmonds of the Flyers and Tom Wilson of the Capitals. It was… unfriendly.

If these two teams meet in the playoffs, it’s going to be an absolute grind for both teams. Expect a physical, tense affair and, if the season series was any indication, unpredictable results. This could be a dandy.

Steve Mason robbed Evgeny Kuznestov in the shootout. (USATSI)

2. Steve Mason is locked in

Despite making his seventh start in 11 days, Steve Mason had the goods against the Capitals. He stopped 29 of 30 shots in regulation and came up with two huge stops in the shootout. First he stuffed shootout expert T.J. Oshie, but Mason put an exclamation point on the performance with his show-stopping glove save on Evgeny Kuznetsov to set up the Flyers’ win.

Steve Mason channeled his last name and built a brick wall.https://t.co/LROLxq0wxI

— NHL (@NHL) March 31, 2016

Kuznetsov showed great patience, but Mason stayed with him and managed to get the glove on it. Sam Gagner then put his shot past Braden Holtby to secure the win and the Flyers were celebrating.

Again, this is a guy who just started his seventh game in 11 days. He’s won five of those games and has allowed more than two goals in only one of those seven starts. Mason’s save percentage in this stretch of games is a robust .944. It’s been a remarkable run for Mason when his team needed it most.

The Flyers have no choice but to let Mason roll with Michal Neurvirth injured and rookie Anthony Stolarz lacking any NHL experience. They even brought in Ray Emery on a tryout just to make sure they’re covered on depth. If Mason stays healthy and keeps playing like this, the Flyers have a great shot to do something.

That said, in a tight playoff race, the Flyers still have six games to play over the final eight days. They get two full days off before starting that grind to finish the regular season, but they may need to try to do something to keep Mason fresh if it is at all possible. He’s looking pretty good now, though.

3. Updating the playoff race

With the win, the Flyers moved two full points ahead of the Detroit Red Wings while hanging onto the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They’re also just two points behind the New York Islanders for the top wild card spot, which — if secured — would set up a matchup with the still undetermined Atlantic Division champion.

The Flyers will play both the Red Wings and Islanders before the season is done and both of those games could have huge implications on final seeding. Philadelphia will be hitting the road for both of those crucial contests, traveling to Detroit on April 6 and playing a makeup game with the Islanders in Brooklyn on April 10.

The way the Flyers are playing right now, the Red Wings may actually have a better chance at catching the Boston Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division. That puts Boston on alert to potentially be bounced unless they can also find a way to keep pace with the wild card teams just in case. As of right now, both the Islanders and the Flyers have more points in the standings than Boston.

This is going to be a fascinating finish to the 2015-16 season.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)