PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For the first time in six years, the Flyers are back in the playoffs. They will take on the hated Pittsburgh Penguins with Game 1 in the Steel City Saturday night.
From 8 points out at the Olympic break to third place in the Metropolitan Division, how did Philly do it? Flyers.com beat writer Bill Meltzer said a late-season defensive tweak was one of the key factors in Philly’s unexpected surge toward a postseason berth.
“They were doing a very good job of bottling teams up in the neutral zone and creating turnovers before the other team could even get into the Flyers’ zone. If they got the puck in deep, they weren’t able to retrieve it with much speed,” Meltzer said.
Another feather in the Flyers’ cap: strong depth.
“They have a playable fourth line. That line has been effective, which is something the Penguins will have to contend with.”
But Meltzer said watch out for the man advantages in either direction: the Flyers’ power play was worst in the league this year, and their penalty kill will have its hands full with the Penguins’ 7th-ranked power play.
“Certainly, Pittsburgh has, on paper, a big edge on special teams. So the Flyers want to keep as much of [the series] as they can at 5-on-5. If they can do that, then I think their depth can win out in the series.”
On Wednesday, there will be the first playoff hockey game in South Philly since 2018.
“You talk to players in the locker room afterwards, [they say] playing in front of a packed house, it makes a big difference. If you keep games close, manageable, then I think the crowd can kind of pull you over the finish line.”
The puck drops at 8 p.m. Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.
Game 1 gets underway at 8 p.m.
Game 1 gets underway at 8 p.m.
