The Philadelphia Flyers started off the new year with two convincing wins, followed by an overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since then, it’s been two very bad losses to a very good team in the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Lightning are a very good team, so a win in the back-to-back was not necessarily expected, but not getting at least a point on home ice felt a bit like a disappointment.

As of now (Tuesday, Jan. 13), the Flyers are still just ahead of the Washington Capitals for 3rd in the Metropolitan. At 52 points, Philadelphia is right in the pack of seven Eastern Conference teams in the 51-53 point range. One more loss, and the Flyers could have a completely different position in the standings.

Now, the Flyers head into a critical stretch of games, including three straight games against Eastern Conference opponents – two of which are right in that point range. Philadelphia heads on the road for a back-to-back against the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, before returning home for one game vs. the New York Rangers.

Buffalo, an Atlantic Conference team, is currently tied with the Flyers in points-percentage. They are in possession of the 2nd Wild Card spot. The Penguins are just behind the Flyers (52) with 51 points. A loss to Pittsburgh would flip the two teams in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers aren’t quite as close at 46 points, but with how tight the East is, everyone is still in contention.

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Flyers face a critical stretch

These games may seem less meaningful now, but the next three-game stretch for the Flyers is against all teams that they will be in the late-March/early-April dogfight for a playoff position. Every point will matter.

The Flyers hit this stretch in what feels like a low point in the season, coming off a heartbreaking loss to Toronto, followed by two straight blowout losses to the Lightning. A quick bounce back is extremely important for Philadelphia.

Buffalo is among the hottest teams in the NHL. In their last 10 games, the Sabres are 8-2-0. Pittsburgh is not an easier task, as it is the winner of seven of its last 10 games. So these important mid-season games come while the Flyers’ opponents are playing their best hockey of the season, while Philly, well, isn’t.

So yes, the points on the table are important. You won’t want to look back at the season in April and think, man, if only those mid-season games went differently.

To me, what is important about these games is how the Flyers will respond.

These are crucial points on the table in some big January games. If this team is for real, they’ll be able to snap out of their skid, even on the road.

The Flyers know they’re a good team. Now, it’s time to prove it in this critical three-game stretch.

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