This time Flyers look to be focused on road to playoffs

PHILADELPHIA – Now that the Flyers are once again in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot, can they keep the car on the road this time?
Remember just two years ago when they were in a potential playoff spot for 124 days and then, at the worst possible time, hit a pothole, went 2-7-2 and crashed into a non-playoff ditch?
Here we are with the Flyers just a handful of games from qualifying for a postseason berth and ending a five-year drought. Can they avoid a repeat?
Coach Rick Tocchet certainly hopes so. By virtue of a 2-1 overtime win against Boston on Sunday, his team is back in third place in the Metropolitan Division standings.
With five games remaining, the Flyers do not want a repeat performance of the 2023-24 season.
According to Tocchet, the pressure is now on his team to perform.
It’s easier, he says, to be the hunter rather than the hunted.
“When you’re chasing somebody it’s hard,” Tocchet said. “But when you’re getting hunted it’s harder.
“We’re going to have to learn that. We’ll have a short practice tomorrow (Monday) and then worry about the Devils (on Tuesday). That’s the only way you can look at it. I’m sure guys will be watching who wins tonight. The hardest part is getting chased. Guys get nervous. It hard when you have three or four teams coming for you.”
Noah Cates likes the way his team has responded to the pressure so far. They have the second most wins in the NHL since the Winter Olympics break.
“I think this past month, just how we’ve been playing,” Cates said in response to how the Flyers have handled the nerves the past month. “Tonight was playoff hockey. For us to be disciplined, not try to do something fancy, something stupid at the blue line or whatever, speaks to the growth of the team.”
Christian Dvorak added the Flyers have been feeding off the energy of the home crowds a bit better. This was their 18th win of the season at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“We knew they (the Bruins) were going to bring high energy,” Dvorak said. “Great atmosphere. Thought we used the energy pretty well. They (the crowd) were into it early and it was awesome to get them the win.”

>Playing in tight situations

Most of the younger Flyers have not been through these pressure-cooker situations, so they’re learning on the fly.
“There’s a lot of growth,” Tocchet said. “A little bit of a roller-coaster sometimes but for the most part this team has stuck together all year. I’m really proud of them.”