Flyers can’t help but scoreboard watch as push for playoffs continues

The Flyers played one of their best periods of hockey all season during the second frame vs. the Blue Jackets Tuesday, but it came in between two of their worst.

Philly outshot Columbus 20-6 and netted two goals in the 20-minute frame, but ultimately fell after being outscored 5-0 in the other two. With the team within six points (as of Wednesday) the Flyers could have cut the deficit to just four with the Bruins idle.

“Yeah, we need our best effort, and we need to get points,” goalie Ray Emery said. “From here on in, every game is important.”

Though the mantra in pro sports is to take things one day at a time while not worrying about outside factors, the players admit they can’t help but scoreboard watch as they try and get into the playoff picture.

“I think we’ve been aware for the last month, two months,” Wayne Simmonds said. “We have been playing catch up all year. Obviously we have been paying attention.”

Captain Claude Giroux, whose first line has struggled of late after months of domination admits to the same thing.

“Obviously we want to focus on our game and how we play,” he said, “but it is pretty easy to look at the scores when they’re playing.”

The Bruins are in the midst of a three-game west coast swing, having faced the Oilers Wednesday with the Blues and Blackhawks on the docket for the upcoming weekend.

The puck drops for the Flyers next game against the Sabres at the Wells Fargo Center Thursday at 7 p.m.