DENVER — The Flyers’ luck changed right after a tough shootout loss in Columbus on Tuesday night.
Despite playing on back-to-back nights, the Flyers’ decision to fly to Denver after the game proved wise when a blizzard hit Wednesday. The storm closed the airport, but by the time the first snowflakes hit the ground the players and coaches were in bed.
“We had a nice quiet day in the hotel,” coach Dave Hakstol said.
It was also an opportunity to further wash away the disappointment of Tuesday’s shootout loss to the Blue Jackets. Philadelphia had a 2-0 lead with 1:04 left and left a valuable point on the table in its battle with Detroit for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
The bitter taste didn’t last long for the team. With a big game against an equally desperate Colorado team on Thursday night, there was no time to worry about Tuesday.
“It’s disappointing, but you put it behind you quickly because we have a tough test tonight,” goalie Steve Mason said. “If you dwell on what happened two nights ago it’s going to put you in the wrong mindset. As soon as we got on the plane we were moving on.”
The Flyers have proven they can bounce back. They have won five straight games following a loss, which has helped them move into a tie with Detroit with 83 points.
NHL
They are ahead in the standings heading into Thursday’s game on the basis of having played one fewer game than the Red Wings after going 9-2-2 since Feb. 25.
“We’re playing good hockey,” center Sam Gagner said. “Everybody understands their role, they’re buying in. Top to bottom, everyone’s contributing, our goaltending’s been pretty solid and it’s what we need to continue to do.”
That includes putting Tuesday behind them.
“Even if you find a way to win that game, you move on,” Gagner said. “Where we’re at in our season it’s too important.”
The Flyers want to finish their four-game trip, which wraps up Saturday at Arizona, with momentum. They face an Avalanche team in a similar situation — fighting for the last playoff spot with nine games left.
“Both of us are grinding to get into the wild-card positions,” Mason said. “Colorado’s in a tough battle with Minnesota for the wild card, and both teams know what’s at stake.”
Colorado won’t have its top two scorers again tonight. Centers Matt Duchene (56 points) and Nathan MacKinnon (52) are both out with knee injuries, but the Avalanche have won their last two without Duchene and one without MacKinnon.
Holding pattern
Center Chris VandeVelde was eligible to return from his two-game suspension against Columbus, but was not in the lineup. The game notes listed him as suspended for that game and Hakstol declined to update any lineup changes for Thursday’s game against the Avalanche.
“I won’t discuss any lineups,” he said. “I haven’t done that over the last little bit and just won’t do that today.”
VandeVelde was suspended for elbowing Chicago’s Jonathan Toews in the Flyers’ 3-2 win over the Blackhawks on March 16. He has two goals and 11 assists in 69 games this season.
Projected Flyers lineup
F: Brayden Schenn - Claude Giroux - Wayne Simmonds
Michael Raffl - Sean Couturier - Sam Gagner
Jakub Voracek - Nick Cousins - Matt Read
Scott Laughton - Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - Ryan White
D: Andrew MacDonald - Shayne Gostisbehere
Nick Schultz - Mark Streit
Brandon Manning - Radko Gudas
G: Steve Mason
Scratches: Evgeny Medvedev, R.J. Umberger, Chris VandeVelde, Jordan Weal
Injured: Michael Del Zotto (wrist), Michal Neuvirth (lower body)