Flyers 3, Thrashers 2

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Thank goodness for the Atlanta Thrashers.

We need to play this team at least once a week from now on.

In fact, I propose we switch divisions with Washington and join the Southeast. It's a win-win. We get to play against Atlanta, and the NHL gets its precious Ovechkin-Crosby game eight times a year! It's perfect!

Anyway, the Flyers finally snapped that annoying losing streak by beating the Thrashers 3-2 at the Center last night. Antero Nittymaki got the start and played fairly well, including a ridiculous save on Ilya Kovalchuk with about eight seconds left in the third to preserve the win. Seriously, I cannot begin to tell you how big that save was. Mike Knuble somehow forgot where Kovalchuk was in the slot and left him wide open. Mind you, Kovalchuk had just scored about 20 seconds earlier to make it 3-2, so it's not like he didn't have a hot hand. The way the Flyers have been playing recently, I thought for sure we'd blow yet another third period lead. Not this time. Even the Versus announcers were raving about Nitty's stop. Joe Beninati, who does the play-by-play for the Capitals and is, in my opinion, one of the best, called it the save of the season for Philly. I have to agree with him on that one.

This puts the O&B one point behind Boston for seventh in the Eastern Conference. Washington won last night against Nashville, so they move ahead of Buffalo into the ninth spot. Basically, we need to win at least five out of our last eight games to secure a playoff spot (I can't believe the season's almost over. Guess it goes by quicker when you're not in last place). Even if we lose games in OT or the unrecognized shootout, it still guarantees a point. As long as we don't drop points, we should be OK. Personally, I'd rather take the seventh spot and go up against a Montreal or Ottawa instead of New Jersey, who we simply cannot beat. Montreal would be favorable because I don't know how well Carey Price will handle playoff pressure. He's going to be a phenomenal goaltender for them, don't get me wrong, but it's playoff hockey in Montreal. Ottawa wouldn't be bad either since all the pressure would be on them. New Jersey holds that psychological edge over us, and I think the team would be more focused on overcoming that obstacle instead of trying to win a seven-game series.

The next five games are against the NY clubs, with the Rangers and Islanders in town this weekend. The Isles will be without Rick DiPietro due to his upcoming hip surgery, but they're pretty much a non-factor in the playoff race except to play the role of spoiler. I'm guessing Nitty gets the call on Friday, though I wouldn't be surprised to see Martin Biron back in net. I would stick with Nitty.