It's been nearly eight years since anyone in Philadelphia could say it, but the Philadelphia Flyers are now the best team in Philadelphia.
If you haven't been 100% in on the Flyers, it's time to jump on board.
No Place Like Home
Similar to the 76ers, when opponents come here to play they're facing a huge challenge. The Flyers have one of the best home records in the NHL at a staggering 21-5-4. Only Pittsburgh and Boston have a better home record.
Naturally, with a record like that the goalie tandem of Carter Hart and Brian Elliott are boasting some impressive numbers, but what Hart is doing is simply elite. Hart, going into tonight's game against San Jose, is posting an incredible 16-2-2 record at home. Along with a save percentage of .942 and GAA of 1.64. With numbers like that and the potential for at least one playoff series with home ice advantage, there's a playoff run waiting in the wings.
Alain Vigneault
First year head coach Alain Vigneault inherited a roster that had all the potential in the world, but didn't have the right voice at the helm to lead the way. Vigneault's coaching style and overall relationship with players, veterans and rookies alike, has tapped into that potential and it's paying dividends.
Vigneault is not one to beat around the bush. He will call out anyone and everyone in the Flyers locker room if they're not performing to the level they're expected to be at, including the captain Claude Giroux.
Again, Vigneault's ability to do this is the exact opposite of the previous regime and why the Flyers only had to make a few key veteran acquisitions in the likes of Kevin Hayes and Matt Niskanen.
Vigneault can rely on the current, but aging, core of the Flyers and the youth to make the jump into the playoffs.
Quality Wins, Quality Opponents
The cliché in hockey is always "no team wants to play x-team in the playoffs" and that doesn't fit a team better than the Flyers.
This season, the Flyers are 7-3-3 against other top division teams in the eastern conference.
In addition, the Flyers have been one of the most consistent teams in the NHL. They haven't lost back-to-back games since the beginning of the New Year.
As the Flyers currently sit in the top-three of the Metro division, they'll face with Washington or Pittsburgh in the first round, holding a winning season record against these teams, will only boost their confidence come April.
Looking Ahead
The Flyers take on the San Jose Sharks Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center, before a home and home swing with the New York Rangers on Friday and Sunday.
They'll face 11 playoff, or playoff caliber, opponents over the last 20 games this the season. However, with the consistency that the Flyers have been playing at, they aren't going to just get in the playoffs this April, they're primed for a run to end their eight-year drought without a playoff series win.
Bill Kornfeld is the co-host of the Orange and Backcheck podcast, which you can find here. You can also follow him on Twitter @RadioBill1210.
