Nick Piccone
Make sure you follow us on Twitter as we’ll live Tweet the remaining regular season Flyers games. If we’re lucky enough, we’ll get to do it during the playoffs, too.
The Flyers could wind up playing the Washington Capitals when the NHL playoffs begin in a couple of weeks, but last night’s game against the best team in the NHL at the Wells Fargo Center had all the makings of a playoff game. Hard hitting, tough checking, tough to score, and a great goaltending battle headlined the Flyers’ biggest win of the season.
The Capitals have already clinched home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs and have won the Presidents’ Trophy, which is awarded to the team that has the most points in the league after the regular season. The Capitals have had such a tremendous season, they’ve already won that trophy. So when they came into Philly, they basically had nothing to play for.
Or did they?
There’s no question that the hottest teams getting into the postseason in professional sports are usually the ones that have a better chance of making a good run deep into the playoffs rather than the team that’s had the best record in the regular season becoming stagnant and just waiting for the playoffs to start.
Not this Capitals team. They have the talent and the drive to make a deep run for a Stanley Cup championship. Which made the game last night all the more important for the Flyers to try to muster two points to stay ahead of the game in regards to the Detroit Red Wings. Heading into the game, the Flyers and idle Red Wings were tied with 87 points, with the Flyers still holding a game in hand. The Capitals knew how desperate the Flyers were for a win. And they didn’t make it easy.
Steve Mason played a huge role in netting two points last night. He made some of the most incredible saves I’ve seen, and his best was saved for the shootout. The Flyers also had to contend with several questionable calls, and a non-call that had Philly fuming.
Jason Chimera is a punk. Nothing more. Nothing less. OK, maybe less. A lot less. #FlyersTalk #Flyers pic.twitter.com/W4COUuAzK0
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) March 31, 2016
Somebody over at the Iron Pigs’ Twitter account either lost their mind, or simply forgot to change their account before sending out this Tweet:
The Tweet was promptly deleted, but not before my firefingers were able to screenshot it.
After the dirty hit, Giroux also got hit up high. No call. [UPDATED: There was a call. I missed it then read the wrong box score. H/T to commenter Concrete.]
Giroux hit high. After delivering a big hit himself. pic.twitter.com/WlaeR3iB0w
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) March 31, 2016
Let’s get to the highlights:
Brayden Schenn is now a machine.
Schenn strong. pic.twitter.com/YqzgsrXj0g
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) March 31, 2016
And now, your updated Eastern Conference standings!
There was a call for that high hit on Giroux.
You’re right. Read the wrong box score. Fixed.