Few things are settled in the NHL's Eastern Conference, even at this late date. But one thing looks certain - the Philadelphia Flyers are peaking at the right time and should they indeed capture an NHL playoff spot, they'll pose a difficult obstacle for the Washington Capitals or whatever team they face in the first round.
The way things stand right now, the Flyers are two points ahead of the inconsistent Detroit Red Wings for the final wild card spot in the East with a game in hand. They've got six games left, two against the surging Pittsburgh Penguins, one against the Wings and a season-finale against the fading New York Islanders.
The Flyers' playoff percentage is now up to about 88 or 89 percent, depending on the source you trust. Hockey Reference has them all the way down at 87.2 percent, while Moneypuck has them up at 89.21 percent.
Either way, the Flyers' playoff hopes are squarely within their control.
It wasn't all that long ago that fans of the orange and black would have cringed at such a thought, but it's a new day in Philly. And while those same fans are probably happy just knowing that the future of Flyers hockey is bright, a postseason berth remains the ultimate goal.
The truth though, is that the Flyers may not just be positioned to make the playoffs - they look like they could do some damage.
Since Feb. 1, the Flyers are at or near the top of the league in most significant statistical categories.
Points? Dave Hakstol's group is third, behind the President's Trophy-winning Capitals - who the Flyers bested on Wednesday, in a shootout no less - and the Anaheim Ducks.
Goals allowed? 69 - the eight-lowest mark in the NHL. Even more impressive, the Flyers have played 29 games in that time, making them only one of six teams to play that many games.
Goals for? 59 at full strength - the second-best total in the league.
Add to that their 50.4 shot attempts for percentage, fourth-best in the NHL in that span, and it becomes clear that Hakstol's group has become one of the better teams in the league over the past two months.
But it's not just the metrics that to point to the Flyers being a difficult out come postseason time - the manner in which players like Brayden Schenn (25 goals, 29 assists), rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (16 goals, 26 assists), Sean Couturier (10 goals, 26 assists) and even captain Claude Giroux (22 goals, 43 assists) have continually developed and found success within Hakstol's choking, pressuring system is impressive.
Schenn especially has blossomed under Hakstol since his brother Luke was dealt to the Kings as part of the Vinny Lecavalier trade. His 25 markers and 54 points are career-bests, and six games still remain in the regular season. Schenn's redirection goal against the Capitals on Wednesday pushed the game to overtime and secured the Flyers at least one point.
Really, the only things holding the Flyers back from truly being an elite team are their at times head-scratching defensive lapses and a mediocre power play (19.1 percent conversion rate since Feb. 1, 19th in the league). And with Michal Neuvirth's return uncertain, Steve Mason, who has been very good, if not outright great the past week or so, will have to continue providing the same steady backstopping presence he has since Neuvirth went down in late March.
But as the Flyers and Mason showed during that tough outing against the Capitals on Wednesday, they're not going to give up on the 2015-16 season easily. And even if it is Washington they draw in the first round, the series is likely to be tighter than people expect.
