All things considered, the table was set for the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Maybe they didn’t churn out a meal that was a work of art, but it got the job done.
By holding on for a 3-1 lead against their bitter rivals in the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers clinched a playoff berth that seemed unthinkable months ago.
In many ways, it was fitting: things weren’t always pretty, but the Flyers kept fighting.
It’s also fitting how Philly made the playoffs, as they head in strong while the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings lost huge contests on Saturday. Ultimately, the Flyers and Red Wings won that three-team race for two spots.
Wayne Simmonds has been a huge part of this run, and he scored the two most important goals for the Flyers.
THAT'S IT! THE @NHLFlyers ARE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS! #NHLonNBC pic.twitter.com/81zAkBni6w
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) April 9, 2016
The Bruins, meanwhile, find themselves out of the playoff mix for two straight seasons.
The #Sens made their ridiculous run to the playoffs to beat out the #Bruins last season. This time the #Flyers, who were 12th in East Jan 1.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) April 9, 2016