Flyers, going sideways, have unenviable challenge
The Flyers have gone sideways for most of the last month - a 4-3-4 record since Feb. 10 - and, as a result, are fighting for their playoff lives.
In the meantime, surging Ottawa jumped ahead of them by defeating Winnipeg on Wednesday, 3-1, to raise its record to 8-1-2 in the last 11 games.
That means the Flyers (66 points) now have to jump over three teams _ Boston (71), Florida (69) and Ottawa (67) if they are going to squeeze into the playoffs.
Making matters worse, Boston and Ottawa have two games in hand.
Yes, the Flyers are a long shot and will probably need around 28 points _ as in 13-3-2 _ in their last 18 games to get into the playoffs.
The journey continues Thursday when the Flyers host Ken Hitchcock's powerful St. Louis Blues, a team that has a legitimate shot at reaching the Stanley Cup Finals.
"They're a big, strong team, and they play a north game," coach Craig Berube said. "They're going to put it in deep and they're going to pound you - and they score a lot more goals than they did last year. They have a lot more firepower.
"It's going to be a tough game, but if you go back to last year and the two games we played them, we rose to the challenge and matched them physically," added Berube, mindful the Flyers can't look ahead to Saturday's meeting in Boston. "They were tight-checking games, and I don't expect anything differently."
Last season, the Flyers scored a 4-1 home win over the Blues, then dropped a 1-0 shootout in St. Louis.
If the Flyers are going to have any chance of playing in the post-season, they need several players to snap out of slumps. The droughts;
Jake Voracek, who entered Wednesday tied for third in the NHL with 65 points, has two goals in his last 21 games.
Claude Giroux, who has yet to score at even-strength at home this season, has two goals in his last 16 games.
Sean Couturier has two goals in his last 14 games.
Michael Raffl has no goals in his last eight games, and one in his last 11.
Brayden Schenn, now the third-line center, has one goal in his last 14 games.
R.J. Umberger has no goals in his last 15 games.
Vinny Lecavalier has no goals in his last 21 games.
Breakaways. Right winger Vladimir Tarasenko, 23, the Blues' first-round pick in 2010, is having a breakout season with 31 goals and 61 points…..Steve Mason (12-13-8, 2.27 GAA, .924 save percentage) will face St. Louis' Brian Elliott (20-9-2, 2.20, .921).
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.