Four-for-Four: The “I’m Feeling a Draft” Edition

FLYERS

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

THE TURNING POINT

The Flyers clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs earlier this week. Saturday, they secured the third seed in the division and a first-round matchup with the New York Rangers. The season was one of the more remarkable turnaround in recent memory and just making the postseason is an accomplishment in and of itself.

One of the biggest contributors to the turnaround, winger Wayne Simmonds, joined Jon Marks and Sean Brace of 97.5 the Fanatic earlier this week to talk about what this season was like. When prompted with what he felt was the turning point of the season, Simmonds had an answer that may have irked some but gave some insight to the pride of this team and their fighter’s mentality.

Oddly enough, Simmonds pointed to a game that the Flyers actually lost as the point where they decided to start taking things seriously. By a 7-0 margin, the Flyers were embarrassed at home by the Washington Capitals. Towards the end of the game, the two sides engaged in a line brawl that, admittedly, painted the Flyers in a negative light.

Whatever does the trick, I suppose, applies in this situation. Simmonds is wrapping up a career year and the Flyers are in the playoffs (and the Capitals are not). Just interesting hearing that a game that was an embarrassment at the time served as fuel for the Flyers turnaround.

FLOWER POWER-LESS

The Flyers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in overtime on Saturday to lock up the 3rd position in the Metropolitan Division and avoid a potential date with the Bruins in the opening round. Though urgency seemed to be at a premium in the matinee affair, the game ramped up toward the end of regulation and a late flurry of goals would send the contest to overtime.

For some reason, whenever the Flyers play Pittsburgh, Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury goes from world-class netminder to a sieve-like, convulsive mess that makes one wonder how he is an NHL goalie. The latest entry, which proved to be the game-winner, was as bad as they come.

Oof.

#GHOST-MODE

Realizing full well that I have had at least two entries in these weekly articles about Shayne Gostisbehere, I just cannot help myself. Tonight’s the Flyers former 3rd round pick and top-flight prospect played for the NCAA Hockey National Championship. His Union team faced off with the top-seeded Minnesota Gophers at the Wells Fargo Center. On the biggest possible stage for a college hockey player, Gostisbehere was the undoubted best player on the ice and the following goal was stupefying to watch live.

I may cry if this kid doesn’t end up being a good pro.