The Flyers are...Headed to the Playoffs??

I'm not going to lie: I thought that the Flyers were done once Michael Leighton was knocked out with an injury. With Brian Boucher starting in goal, there was no way that this team was going to be able to hold on against the Rangers and Thrashers in order to clinch a playoff birth. Did anyone think that the Flyers would win three of their last four games to get there? How many people had hope after the Rangers took the Flyers down at Madison Square Garden the other night?

Instead of giving in, the Flyers fought back. After Jody Shelley scored three minutes into the game, things didn't look good for the Orange and Black. Instead, Brian Boucher held strong for the rest of the game, allowing the Flyers to keep their offensive charge going. The Flyers outshot the Rangers 47-25, but Henrik Lundqvist kept the Rangers in front for most of the game. With just under seven minutes to go, Matt Carle finally tied the game for the Flyers, and the rest is now history. Danny Briere and Claude Giroux scored in the shootout, and Boucher stopped two out of the three shots he faced, and the Flyers earned their playoff spot.

Now, the Flyers are in the NHL playoffs, and they have to face off against their rivals, the New Jersey Devils. The best part about this matchup is that the Flyers won five of six games against the Devils this season, and dominated the season series, outscoring the Devils 20-13. If there was a team that the Flyers would feel good in facing in the first round of the playoffs, it would be the Devils, and that's who they've ended up against. They've dominated New Jersey during the regular season, and now they have a chance to throw a wrench into the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

As happy as I am to see the Flyers make the playoffs, I'm not sure how far they will go. The Devils are a good team, and Martin Brodeur is still one of the best goalies in hockey, regardless of how he's played against the Flyers. Nothing is decided yet, but the Flyers certainly have some pressure on them as they head into the playoffs. That being said, I expect Philadelphia to do quite well, and a series win against the Devils wouldn't surprise me at all.