Flyers part of jumbled Eastern Conference

By Eric Schwartz
for PhillySportsBlogs.com

Published: January 29, 2010

Flyers part of jumbled Eastern Conference thumbnail

The Flyers have no one else to blame but themselves. Picked as preseason favorites to contend for the Stanley Cup, the Flyers will first have to spend the final half of their season simply chasing a playoff spot.

Any spot.

The Flyers blew a 3-1 third-period lead Thursday night, falling to the Thrashers, 4-3, and dropping to 7^th in the Eastern Conference Standings.

Philadelphia is currently 12 points out of fourth place in the East meaning any realistic chance of the team securing home ice advantage for even the first round is highly unlikely. Their place in the standings also indicates that they will be in a dogfight with no less than eight teams for the final three playoff spots in the East.

Bellow are the ridiculously-tight standings.

6: Ottowa – 56 points

7: Philadelphia – 55 points

7: Florida – 55 points

7: NY Rangers – 55 points

7: Montreal – 55 points

11: Boston – 54 points

11: Tampa – 54 points

11 – NY Islanders – 54 points

With so many teams fighting for so few spots, it’s anybody’s game right now. In a two-part series starting on Saturday, Phillysportsblogs will attempt to handicap these eight teams.

Will the Flyers be in or out?

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