Petr Mrazek

A 5-4 shootout loss to the lowly Detroit Red Wings gave the Flyers a deserved result in more ways than one, knocking them from the top three in the Metropolitan Division and back into the wildcard race.

After rallying for four goals in the third period of Saturday's game in Carolina, the Flyers turned in one of their best games in March, a 6-3 win on home ice against the Washington Capitals. The four-point stretch gives the Flyers some breathing room with just nine games left on the schedule before the regular season comes to an end.

A 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets has the Flyers recent free-fall pressing on, while Columbus' surge puts them on the cusp of overtaking the Flyers in the standings. New Jersey and Florida are all knocking on the door too, as the Flyers spot in the playoffs burns to a crisp.

The Flyers were closing in on at least one hard-earned point against another Western Conference team when a lost puck battle led to the game-winning goal for the Vegas Golden Knights. For the Flyers, it was just another game that got away, a growing trend here in March.

A 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets was a test passed by the Flyers. With some luck finally on their side, it could be the break the Flyers were looking for to get back on track in their playoff push.

Alex Lyon has a 2-1-0 record with a 2.88 goals-against-average and a .903 save percentage this season.

That's now four straight losses for the Flyers, who are suddenly going through the motions of these games and falling into some of the same bad habits that led to a 10-game losing streak back in November.

The Flyers were 8-11-7 after a 10th straight loss on Dec. 3. They have gone 26-8-3 since to not only move comfortably in the playoff race, but also challenge for the Metropolitan Division title.

For a change, Flyers GM Ron Hextall can look at the market and see if there are any options that improve the team in the here and now at the trade deadline. Despite the rise in the standings and the flurry of activity from Eastern Conference counterparts, he needs to stay the course.

ESPN NHL Analyst Barry Melrose joined The Sports Bash on Tuesday discussing what this trade means for the Flyers and Ron Hextall's message to his team