Five points out of a playoff spot.
Five games to go for the Flyers.
Mathematically, the Flyers are alive to gain the No. 8 playoff spot currently occupied by the New York Rangers but … the Rangers' schedule favors them considerably.
Two games against Florida. Two against the fading New Jersey Devils. One against Carolina.
It’s a far easier road than the Flyers, who have Boston and Ottawa among their remaining games.
“We never give up,” Kimmo Timonen said. “If the team gives up, you won’t get that kind of game. That’s a good sign. We obviously need some help around the league, but at the same time every time you step on the ice there has to be pride and passion.
“That’s your job. To me it’s not that hard. If it’s game number 10 or 48, you still have to do your job and go out there and play for the Philadelphia Flyers. The game yesterday was great. Today there was a lot of passionate good hockey.”
Team captain Claude Giroux still believes.
“It’s the same story, we can’t be focusing on that. We have to be focused on what we have to do every game.
“Of course we’d love to have help from the other teams, but games like tonight are the games you have to win. Teams that are in the same race. We just have to focus on us and just try to get better.”
The Flyers need help all-around.
“Anything can happen,” Brayden Schenn said. “We are not going to quit, whether we are five points back or three points back.
“We are going to fight until the end and there are still 10 points up for grabs for us. A lot can happen, so we’re going to keep on fighting until the end.”
Pregame tribute
The Flyers held a nice pregame tribute to the victims and heroes in Boston following Monday’s terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon.
During a video tribute on the Jumbotron, Lauren Hart and Kate Smith sang, “God Bless America.”
Flyers president Peter Luukko, a native New Englander, very much wanted to do this.
Loose pucks
Luukko wasn’t sure what to make out of various media reports concerning the NHL having six -- yes, six -- Winter Classics next season. Talk about ruining a good thing. The Flyers are not involved, which is likely why he was unaware. He said the procedure involves the league coming to the club and asking if it is interested in hosting the event. … Rookie defenseman Brandon Manning notched his first NHL point -- an assist on Brayden Schenn’s goal. He logged 11:56 of playing time for the concussed Kent Huskins. … Oliver Lauridsen led the Flyers in hits with six, while fellow defenseman Luke Schenn led the club with six blocked shots.