Inside the Flyers: Despite optimism, a second-half surge unlikely

The Flyers still think they are good enough to make the playoffs.

Delusional? Perhaps. In denial? Probably.

But, hey, they need something to rally around.

The Flyers are 16-19-7 just past the midway point of their schedule, 11 points out of a playoff spot. That deficit, in itself, isn't the biggest challenge. This is: They have to climb over five teams.

"We've put ourselves in a tough situation, but we have games left that we can make up ground," coach Craig Berube said.

But that will happen only if they play with more resolve, more urgency than they did in a mostly lackluster first three months.

Captain Claude Giroux tried to put a positive spin on a season that has gone bad.

"I think our progress is really good," Giroux said when asked to assess the team's first half the other day. "We're getting better. Maybe our record doesn't show it, but I think in the last month or so, we've been playing some good hockey, playing the way we want to. But in the end, we have to find a way to win games, and that's one thing we have to figure out."

Giroux believes winning streaks are on the horizon if the team "stays focused. We need to be patient with this. We have to go a game at a time."

"Hopefully we'll climb that nine-point mountain by the end of January," Jake Voracek said. ". . . We have a lot of home games here."

Give the Flyers' two best players points for optimism, but the reality is this: When you have just 16 wins in your first 41 games and are almost as close to having the first pick in the draft as to the last playoff spot, well, it's difficult to envision this team playing after the April 11 regular-season finale.

Here is the abridged version of what has to happen in the second half for the Flyers to avoid missing the playoffs for just the third time in the last 20 seasons:

The penalty kill, which ranked tied for last in the 30-team league at the midway point, needs to show marked improvement, especially on the road, where it has been abysmal.

The Flyers need more secondary scoring. They are wasting spectacular seasons by top-liners Voracek and Giroux because their other lines have been woefully inconsistent.

The Flyers need to play with more physicality, need to reduce the number of odd-man rushes allowed, need to eliminate the puzzling second-period meltdowns, and need to learn how to win close games.

Some first-half numbers: The Flyers had just seven wins in 21 games decided by one goal, and they were 4-17-6 when scoring three goals or fewer, and just 2-14-3 when scoring two goals or fewer.

"We've got to find some timely scoring," Berube said. "We've lost too many 2-1 games."

It's not a good sign when you need to score four goals to win, but that was the Flyers' M.O. in the first half of the season.

"At times, we show how well we can play, and then at times we're off-page," defenseman Mark Streit said. "But I'm 100 percent sure we can make up that ground. There's no doubt. . . . We just have to be more consistent."

"We're giving up too many shots and chances," defenseman Luke Schenn said. "We have to play tighter defensively, and if we focus on that, I think our offense will come."

Giroux said the Flyers aren't concerned about the teams they are chasing.

"It doesn't matter what the other teams do; it's what we do," he said. "Obviously our record isn't good enough to be in the playoffs, or even close. We need to worry about our game, and that's about it."

"We understand we have to have a pretty strong record in the second half to make a good push, and it's going to be a great challenge," said goalie Steve Mason, who left Saturday's loss to Boston with an injury. "This can be a good character-builder if we're able to come out of this. It'll say a lot about the guys in the room if we're able to do so."

A lot is at stake. If the Flyers don't reach the playoffs, first-year general manager Ron Hextall might put his stamp on the team by trying to lure Mike Babcock or Dan Bylsma to replace Berube.

Stay tuned.

Here are the grades for the Flyers in the first 41 games - the midway point of the season - heading into Saturday:

Forwards

Jake Voracek, A The NHL's top scorer after 41 games, he is making folks forget about Jeff Carter.

Claude Giroux, A Because of his all-around play, he edges Voracek as the team's first-half MVP.

Wayne Simmonds, B He has excelled on the power play but has been spotty in even-strength situations.

Sean Couturier, B The blossoming center is on a 20-goal pace and still plays solid defense.

Brayden Schenn, B- He always gives an honest effort but needs to be a more consistent scorer.

Michael Raffl, C+ He has made strides in his second year and could hit the 20-goal mark.

Vinny Lecavalier, C After a slow start, he has been a rejuvenated player the last few weeks.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, C- He needs to play with more physicality; he's been good on the penalty kill lately.

Scott Laughton, C- He is a work in progress; he's solid on 'D' but has just two goals in 24 games.

Chris VandeVelde, C- A lunch-pail player who does the dirty work on the fourth line.

Zac Rinaldo, D+ Give him points for the energy he brings, but he has just one point and is minus-9.

R.J. Umberger, D He has played well recently but had just two goals in his first 31 games.

Matt Read, D A 22-goal scorer last year, he seems to have lost some speed and has just three goals.

Defense

Nick Schultz, B The Flyers' biggest surprise, he has a team-high 77 blocks and is plus-8.

Mark Streit, B- His offense has been fine, but he has struggled at the other end.

Nick Grossmann C+ A solid, physical, stay-at-home defender, he is sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Andrew MacDonald, C He has not performed to his contract (6 years, $30 million) and was scratched twice.

Luke Schenn, C He has provided much-needed physicality but has been yanked in and out of lineup.

Braydon Coburn, C- He missed 12 early-season games and has struggled to find his rhythm.

Michael Del Zotto, C- Arguably the team's best defender in the first month; up-and-down since then.

Goalies

Steve Mason, B+ His misleading won-lost record aside, Mason (2.48 goals-against average, .919 save percentage) has been a rock.

Ray Emery, C- He played well early in the season but has struggled lately.

- Sam Carchidi
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