A LOOK INSIDE THE FLYERS' REMAINING SCHEDULE
With only defenseman Kimmo Timonen remaining in Sochi at the Olympics, the Flyers are getting closer and closer to having their full contingent of players back in Voorhees to begin preparations for a busy stretch drive. The Flyers have 23 games remaining on their 2013-14 regular season schedule.
From here on out, the Flyers' goal will be to finish second -- or no worse than third -- in the Metropolitan Division. That would guarantee a playoff spot without having to worry about getting a wild card spot and a first-round meeting with a division winner.
Currently, the Flyers have 66 points and 27 non-shootout wins (26 in regulation, one in overtime) among their 30 wins. Here's a look at how the Flyers' remaining schedule breaks down and compares to the teams immediately surrounding them in the Metro.
FLYERS
Points: 66
ROW tiebreaker: 27
Remaining games: 23
Home games: 14 (16-10-1 home record to date)
Road games: 9 (14-13-5 road record to date)
Games vs. Eastern Conference teams: 17
Games vs. Western Conference teams: 6
Divisional games: 9
Back-to-back game sets: 4
Three-in-four game sets:2
On paper, the Flyers have 15 "tough" games remaining of their 23 games: vs. San Jose 2/27, vs. NYR 3/1 (Sat matinee), home-and-home @/vs WSH 3/2(matinee) and 3/5, home-and-home vs/@ PIT 3/15 (Sat matinee) and 3/16, vs CHI 3/18 (third game of a three-in-four), vs. STL 3/22 (Sat matinee), 3/24 vs LA, 3/30 vs. BOS, 4/1 @ STL, 4/3 vs CBS, 4/5 @ BOS (Sat matinee), 4/12 @ PIT (Sat mid-afternoon), 4/13 vs CAR (Sun mid-afternoon, back end of b2b, divisional game, final game of regular season).
The Flyers also have beware of a couple of big-time trap games remaining on their schedule. The night after their Boston game on April 5, the Flyers are in Buffalo to take on the Sabres. These sorts of games against clubs out of the playoff chase often prove problematic to teams in the thick of the playoff chase.
Two nights later, the Flyers begin a two-game Sunshine State road trip -- something that historically gives them trouble and which resulted in a pair of losses earlier this season after the Flyers had been on a 6-0-1 run -- with a game against the Florida Panthers.
Now here's how the Flyers' schedule compares to the teams immediately above (Rangers) and below (Columbus) in the standings.
RANGERS
Points: 67 (one ahead of Flyers)
ROW tiebreaker: 28 (one more than Flyers)
Remaining games: 23 (same as Flyers)
Home games: 10 (14-14-3 home record to date)
Road games: 13 (18-10-0 road record to date)
Games vs. Eastern Conference teams: 14
Games vs. Western Conference teams: 8 (vs CHI, @MIN, @WPG, vs SJ, @CGY, @ EDM, @
Divisional games: 7
Back-to-back game sets: 3
Three-in-four game sets: 2
Note: The Rangers have yet to take their western Canada road trip, which will take them through Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. After the Canucks' game, the Rangers also have a road game in Colorado before returning home. On the flip side, the Rangers have finished their season series with the Penguins. They have one game remaining against the Bruins (the Flyers have two). Both the Flyers and Rangers have yet to host Chicago or San Jose.
BLUE JACKETS
Points: 63 (three behind Flyers)
ROW tiebreaker: 25 (two less than Flyers)
Remaining games: 24 (one more than Flyers)
Home games: 12 (16-11-2 home record to date)
Road games: 12 (13-13-3 road record to date)
Games vs. Eastern Conference teams: 13
Games vs. Western Conference teams: 9
Divisional games: 6
Back-to-back game sets: 6
Three-in-four game sets:4
NOTE: The Blue Jackets have the most remaining back-to-back sets of the three teams and the most against teams from the West (including two with Dallas; a good rivalry last season when the two teams were on the Western Conference playoff bubble). However, the Blue Jackets have finished their season series with both the Penguins and Bruins. As with both the Flyers and Rangers, the Blue Jackets have yet to play host to San Jose. They also have a road game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, whereas both the Flyers and Rangers have home games against Chicago.
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TIMONEN IN SEMIFINAL ACTION
Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen and the rest of Team Finland will be in action in Sochi today, playing arch-rival Sweden in the medal round semifinals. I will post my thoughts on the game later.
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BIG MONTH FOR THE DINEENS
February has been a wonderful month for the Dineen family. The family patriarch, former Flyers head coach Bill Dineen, was recently formally inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame. Yesterday, former Flyers captain Kevin Dineen coached Canada's women's team to a gold medal in a game against Team USA that will be discussed -- and debated --- for many years to come.
Shortly after the game ended yesterday, I sent Kevin a congratulatory email; knowing full well that he'd be getting dozens and dozens of similar emails, texts and calls. Being the thoughtful and classy person that he is (it's a family trait), he CCed me on the email he sent out to all of the people -- and there were indeed dozens -- who had reached out to congratulate him.
I hope he wouldn't mind me sharing it:
f I keep walking around Sochi shaking my head and saying "Wow" Putin may have me picked up. Thanks to all of you for reaching out on a very special day. I keep thinking of Joels speech this Summer at his cup party and his first reaction after the dramatic win in Boston, same as his previous one. Turned to his guys on the bench and said "We just won the Fing Cup".
An incredible experience and all the better having the family here to share it with. We didn't do it the easy way but wow what a incredible bunch to work with. All quiet this morning as the girls partied like rock stars.
I'm cell phone dead for another week but know there is a lot of good thoughts heading our way. Best part of this has been to enjoy with family and friends.
Wow!
As an American, I was sorry to see the U.S. women defeated in such heartbreaking fashion. But as a hockey lover, I appreciated the game for what it was. I was also thrilled for Kevin Dineen, who got a bit of a raw deal in Florida this season before he was hired to coach the Canadian women.
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CASINO ROYALE FUNDRAISER WITH FLYERS ALUMNI
On Sunday March 9 starting at 5 p.m. Abrams Hebrew Academy will hold its annual Fund Raising Dinner and Casino Royale Night at Congregation Beth El in Yardley, PA. Special guests for the night will include Bernie Parent, Brian Propp, Bill Clement, Joe Watson and Bob "the Hound" Kelly.
Apart from the dinner and casino event, there will also be a host of items available via auction, including a signed stick by all three members of the Flyers' legendary LCB line (Reggie Leach and Hall of Famers Bob Clarke and Bill Barber), boxes of Bernie Parent's signature cigar line, a handsome Clarke lithograph and many more goodies.
All proceeds go to benefit the school. My nephew, Sammy Sherman, attends Abrams and my sister, Liza, helped to organize the event and line up the Flyers alumni guests. The slogan for the event is "Help Abrams Make Its Goal."
For more information,
click here.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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