Flyers Looking Like a Dangerous Playoff Team

Forget Wednesday night's 7-4 loss at Florida. It is an aberration in what is turning out to be a remarkable season.

The Flyers have next to no chance of catching the Penguins or Devils in the Atlantic Division. Which is fine in that just making the playoffs is the most important thing in the NHL. Being a top seed in the NHL just isn't as important as in other sports.

The Flyers right now look like a team that will qualify anywhere from the fourth to sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, with the potential to make a run.

The reason for that is Peter Laviolette and the man who hired him: GM Paul Holmgren, who made the difficult decision to cut John Stevens loose in December. Laviolette has instituted a renewed sense of ice discipline and responsibility, something that has certainly helped Michael Leighton, who now sits atop the goaltender depth chart.

Leighton may have had his first clunker of the season last night, but we're inclined to take the Alfred E. Neuman attitude as far as the goaltending situation is concerned.

The offense is kicking it in high gear, too. Every day, Jeff Carter looks more and more like the 46-goal version of last season.

Look out.

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