Just a few weeks ago we were lauding the Metropolitan Division for their impressive win streaks. Since their 10-game win streak, however, the Flyers have won just one of their last eight games and are effectively playing themselves out of the playoff spot they put themselves into last month.

Between confusing moves to scratch Travis Konecny, having Andrew MacDonald on the first pair with blossoming rookie defenseman Ivan Provorov, and riding Steve Mason until he drops, the Flyers have lost pace with Metropolitan Division leaders. Where the Metropolitan was once separated by fewer than four points, the Flyers have fallen all the way to six behind the Capitals in the last wild card spot.

Bad defense and confusion in their own zone has led to Mason being left on an island like this goal from Kevin Hayes aptly shows.

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When Mason hasn’t been doing it all on his own, his exhaustion has shown after starting 22 of the Flyers’ last 24 games.

That being said, the Flyers aren’t out of it yet. Three points separate Philadelphia from playoff hopefuls in Tampa Bay and Toronto. Both have games in hand, but the Flyers are often a second-half team. They’ll need to be, and they’ll need to be better should they want to play keep-away with that final wild card spot.

Scores

Jets 4, Panthers 1

Canadiens 4, Stars 3 (OT)

Rangers 5, Flyers 2

Canucks 3, Coyotes 0

Flames 4, Avalanche 1

Ducks 2, Red Wings 0

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Four Things We Learned

1. The Rangers continue to be solid in back-to-backs

A pair of goals from Hayes broke a 12-game goalless streak, Henrik Lundqvist stood on his head, and the Rangers flat-out played a better game than the Flyers in the win. The win was New York’s fourth in five games as they hold steady as the Metropolitan’s third place team. More impressive is the Rangers’ record in back-to-back games, now a 7-0-0 stretch in their 2nd game of the back-to-back.

2. Montreal can’t stop playing in overtime

A late goal for Dallas forced the Canadiens to their fifth consecutive overtime, but Max Pacioretty gave Montreal the quick win for their third in that span. Allowing comebacks has only been a small issue during the run, though playing so many extra minutes in a row might start to catch up with them. Maybe more unfortunate is the injury to Brendan Gallagher, after the forward took a slap shot from Shea Weber in the hand.

Bit of a downer: Habs with Gallagher on the ice tonight: 65.62% Corsi.



Habs without Gallagher: 36.95% — Andrew Berkshire (@AndrewBerkshire) January 5, 2017

3. The Canucks are a point away from a playoff spot

It’s really been a year of teams performing well above expectations, hasn’t it? Not only are the Blue Jackets on the cusp of history, the Canucks have now won their fifth straight to put them in a tie with the Jets for a point behind the Kings in the wild card standings. Vancouver has jumped teams like the Stars and Predators, who were sure to be playoff teams coming into the season.

4. Patrik Laine is back on top

And the flip-flopping of the NHL’s leading rookie goal scorer continues!

Impact Moment

The Flames had three power play goals en route to a 4-1 win over Colorado. It was pretty much over after this first one.

Stat of the Night