Flyers playing for pride in final six games of a frustrating season; Alain Vigneault gives cryptic reason for team’s collapse

Having been officially eliminated from the playoffs with Thursday’s 5-3 loss in New Jersey, the Flyers have six meaningless games left on their schedule.

You might wonder how they can get themselves “up” for those games, but it’s fair to say they haven’t exactly played inspired, desperation hockey even when the playoffs were a possibility.

Since the start of March, when the Flyers had the highest points percentage in the East Division, Team Underachieve has won just 11 of its last 32 games (11-17-4). The Flyers will miss the playoffs for the fifth time in the last nine seasons.

“One thing that I’m 100% sure is that their hearts are in it. They want to do well,” coach Alain Vigneault insisted after Friday’s practice in Voorhees. “They’re trying hard.”

Vigneault then gave a cryptic reason for the team’s collapse.

“Some guys, for different reasons, haven’t been able to get their game to where it needs to be,” he said. “I have an idea for the reason behind it. I’m not willing to share it at this time. At the end of the year, we’ll talk [about it].”

Right winger Travis Konecny said he didn’t want to use the team’s COVID-19 outbreak in February as an excuse, but noted that “for a couple of guys who had it here, it was difficult,” and said people respond to the virus in different ways.

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said the Flyers’ tailspin has been frustrating.

“We took a step back from the season we had last year,” he said. “We know we’re a playoff team, especially with the guys we have. It’s tough. You can’t put your finger on one thing. You still have to play these [remaining] games. You have to play them to the best of your ability. You still have a job to do.”

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The first of the Flyers’ six remaining games is Saturday night against New Jersey at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers (22-21-7) are just 10-10-4 at home.

In the offseason, “we realize obviously some changes are going to come,” Gostisbehere said. “We’re not stupid in that sense. It’s our lives, too. We know something is going to happen.”

In the final six games, the Flyers need to “be good professionals and go out there and play to the best of our ability,” Gostisbehere said. “We still have a job to do.”

“We want to play with pride,” said left winger James van Riemsdyk, who leads the Flyers with 16 goals. " ... It’s not the best situation as far as playing these games when you’re out of contention for the playoffs, but you still have to find a little spark inside.”

Brian Elliott will get the start Saturday for the Flyers, who are last in the league in goals allowed per game (3.56).

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The Flyers have also had problems at the other end. Big problems. Their offense has averaged just 2.2 goals over the last 22 games. It averaged 3.3 goals over the first 28 games.

Sean Couturier’s line with Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek “has been our best, but we need more throughout our lineup,” Vigneault said.

Added Vigneault: “You’re looking for chemistry. You’re looking for a couple guys to make plays and get that swagger and that confidence back. For a while, we were getting a lot of pucks to the net and getting second and third opportunities. Now, instead of taking the shot, a lot of times we’re looking to dish it off.”

Gostisbehere, who missed the last three games with a sprained knee, practiced with the team and is expected to return to the lineup Saturday. He was goal-less in his first nine games, and has eight goals in his last 28 games. ... Vigneault said Kevin Hayes (goal-less in his last 15 games) and Nic Aube-Kubel (one goal in his last 30 games) will return to the lineup against the Devils as the four-game series concludes. ... The Flyers haven’t made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 2011-12, the last of five straight appearances. ... The Flyers have two remaining games each against the Devils (Saturday and May 10), Penguins (Monday and Tuesday) and Capitals (next Friday and May 8).