Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
If the Flyers beat the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, they\u2019re in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
The playoff clinching scenario can be that simple \u2014 but it\u2019s not the only way the Flyers can get into their first postseason since 2019-20. They currently hold the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. Here\u2019s a look at the latest standings and how the Flyers lock up a first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins \u2026<\/p>\n
Eastern Conference standings<\/p>\n
The Flyers are in third in the Metro \u2014 and that\u2019s the only route they have to the playoffs. The wild card is not an option, because if the team records enough points to catch the Ottawa Senators for the second wild-card spot, it would also have earned enough points to secure the final Metro spot. In other words, if they fall out of the division race, they\u2019d also fall out of the wild-card race. <\/p>\n
The Flyers (94 points) are currently one point ahead of the Washington Capitals and two ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, but have a game in hand on both those teams. The Capitals and Blue Jackets can at most finish with 95 and 94 points, respectively, and both hold the tiebreaker over the Flyers.<\/p>\n
With two games left to play, two points in any fashion, whether it\u2019s two overtime losses or one win, clinches the playoffs. That would put the Flyers at 96 points, one ahead of the maximum the Capitals or Blue Jackets can reach.<\/p>\n
If the Flyers earn just one point from an overtime loss across their last two games, they will be stuck scoreboard watching the Capitals-Blue Jackets regular-season finale. If the Capitals win, the Flyers are out. A Capitals loss in any fashion would earn the Flyers a playoff berth.<\/p>\n