The Philadelphia Flyers need just two points to then clinch the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and host a playoff game for the first time since 2018. Just one single, little win will get them that spot and thanks to the Carolina Hurricanes, it might come a little bit easier than once thought.
It’s no mystery that the Hurricanes have proven to be unbeatable for the Flyers in recent years. This season they have two shootout losses and an overtime loss against them, last season it was three regulation losses, and then the year prior, it was one single win with three losses — two in regulation and one in overtime.
That last time that the Flyers earned a win over the Hurricanes was a nice little 3-1 victory on November 15, 2023. Sean Walker and Louie Belpedio earned assists on some important goals during that game. That’s how long ago we’re talking about here. Ten players in the lineup of that game aren’t with the organization anymore.
But on Monday night, the Flyers can earn a win so much bigger than just finally getting one over the Hurricanes for the first time in two and a half years. With a win, they clinch the playoffs and we certainly do not want to hold this chaotic tension of not knowing if there will be postseason hockey in Philadelphia or not, into the season finale on Tuesday.
Hurricanes give Flyers prime opportunity to clinch the playoffs
With the playoffs and the top seed in the Metropolitan division all locked up for the Hurricanes, the only true motiviation that this team has for their remaining two games is if they can finish on top of the Eastern Conference. And doing that would only matter if they were to get into another Eastern Conference Final and wanted to have home-ice advantage against the possible winner of the Atlantic. That’s not a lot to fight for.
Knowing that, they are not taking a chance at an important player getting injured in these somewhat meaningless games. Especially considering that the East feels wide open and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final feels like a real possibility for this Hurricanes team. So, head coach Rod Brind’Amour and his staff are forcing just about every single important player in their lineup to rest and not play in Philadelphia.
Shayne Gostisbehere and Jaccob Slavin missing as well. https://t.co/1VVc8yy9Qy
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) April 13, 2026
All six of Sebastian Aho, Jaccob Slavin, Andrei Svechnikov, Jordan Staal, Seth Jarvis, and Shayne Gostisbehere laced up for their win over the Utah Mammoth on Saturday. But now, they will not be even coming close to hitting the ice against the Flyers. And what is maybe even impactful, is that Slavin and Staal led the team in ice-time for their respective positions, and the likes of Aho and Jarvis and Svechnikov also played top-end minutes in the 4-1 win.
Brind’Amour is essentially gutting the lineup and is going to be icing the Chicago Wolves, and have players like Jordan Martinook and Nikolaj Ehlers and Jesperi Kotkaniemi form the top six of this lineup. Hell, we could see old friend Nic Deslauriers get some vital minutes at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Monday night.
The Hurricanes were already missing some players with undisclosed injuries, such as Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake, Will Carrier, K’Andre Miller, Logan Stankoven, Mark Jankowski, and Jalen Chatfield. And some of those players are coming back into the lineup, per Walt Ruff.
Carolina will be icing this lineup Monday night against the Flyers:
Taylor Hall — Logan Stankoven — Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers — Jesperi Kotkaniemi — Bradley Nadeau
Will Carrier — Mark Jankowski — Nic Deslauriers
Eric Robinson — Skyler Brind’Amour — Jordan Martinook
K’Andre Miller — Jalen Chatfield
Alex Nikishin — Sean Walker
Mike Reilly — Charles Legault
Brandon Bussi
(Frederik Andersen)
It is certainly not their best lineup, but it also isn’t anything to scoff at either.
No matter what, the Hurricanes are still a well-coached team and icing young players who are hungrier to show something than the likes of aging veteran Jordan Staal, could bite the Flyers in the end. But from what we just saw how this team dismantled the Winnipeg Jets so easily, they are on a roll that maybe could not be stopped. The Flyers are determined to make the playoffs and it could happen as soon as Monday night with a win.
