The Flyers have exceeded expectations all season, but now they collapse at the worst time.
John Tortorella’s men arrive at the Bell Center on Tuesday and will try, against the Canadian, to end an ugly streak of seven consecutive defeats (0-5-2).
Despite this series of defeats, they remain a small point from the last place giving access to the playoffs, but they have played one more game than three of the five teams fighting with them. In short, with four matches to go, time is running out.
The most optimistic will recall that the Flyers are still playing, in April, the famous significant matches that the Canadian administration wanted to play. Tortorella, however, is not one of these optimists.
“You experience moments of pressure, you ask the players to take more responsibility because of the stakes. There are so many positives that come out, recognized the Flyers head coach. But I’m tired of this expression, meaningful matches. I’m tired of talking about it, because we’re close. Let’s think about getting into the playoffs instead. »
From March 14 to 26, Philadelphia had to complete a particularly perilous segment of the calendar. His opponents: twice the Bruins, twice the Maple Leafs, the Hurricanes, the Rangers and the Panthers. Four of those teams already have 100 points, and the Leafs are at 99. And they were doing it after Daniel Briere traded defenseman Sean Walker, officially putting the Flyers in the seller’s camp.
The team did well under the circumstances: a 2-3-2 record, for 6 points out of a possible 14.
Since this streak, they have played five games; four against teams excluded from the playoffs, the other against the Islanders, who are trying to hang on in this fight. They lost these five games.
“We played seven games in a row against the best teams in the league. And since then, I don’t think we have played at the same level, said Tortorella. I don’t want us to become comfortable. It’s not all about playing meaningful matches. It’s about playing in the playoffs. I want them to experience that. »
Young and old
Tortorella cannot be accused of complacency. When his team was fighting for its survival, the coach left veterans aside. From captain Sean Couturier to Nicolas Deslauriers, Cam Atkinson and Marc Staal, several established players had to give way to younger players.
Couturier and Staal are expected to be in the squad Tuesday, although in Couturier’s case his last two absences were related to a shoulder injury.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Sean Couturier
That said, the drop in performance is not just attributable to veterans. Joel Farabee, 24, has been one of the club’s offensive leaders all season; he has no points during the current seven-game losing streak and has a differential of -7. Travis Konecny, 27, is doing better offensively (four points), but is -9.
After causing a surprise all season, do the Flyers still have gasoline in the tank?
“I think so,” assures Couturier. This time of year, every team plays with the energy of desperation. We have young legs. Lack of energy is not an excuse. »
Speaking of youngsters, Samuel Ersson, 24, will defend the Flyers’ net. The Habs will therefore have to wait before getting to know Ivan Fedotov, a 6’7 giant recently arrived from the KHL.