Philadelphia Flyers: Is Home Ice Really an Advantage?

The Philadelphia Flyers have a good chance to catch the Pittsburgh Penguins in the standings before the playoffs. While catching the Penguins is very possible, actually passing them in the standings might hurt the Flyers chances in the playoffs. 

The Flyers have four games remaining and two of those games are against the Penguins, which makes catching the Penguins a very real possibility. 

The Penguins and Flyers currently hold the fourth and fifth seeds in the east, and it’s unlikely that they will lose their seeds. While it is almost certain that the first round of the playoffs will have a battle of Pennsylvania, the two teams still have to fight for home ice advantage in the series. 

All teams want to have home ice advantage in any playoff series. Having home ice allows players to sleep in their own beds and spend more time in their own city. Home ice advantage gives a team more games in its own building filled with cheering fans. 

The Flyers feel the same as any other team and would like to get home ice advantage for a series with Pittsburgh, but home ice could be a disadvantage for the Flyers. 

The Flyers have had a strange season in terms of road games and home games. For the majority of the season the Flyers have had a much better road record than their home record. While their road record of 24-12-3 and home record of 21-12-5 have evened out towards the end of the season. The team still has a small advantage on the road.  

More importantly the Flyers have had much more success across the state in Pittsburgh. Since the Consol Energy Center opened up at the beginning of last season the Flyers have a record of 8-2-1 against the Penguins. When that record is split between road and home, the Flyers have a record of 5-0-0 in Pittsburgh and only 3-2-1 in Philadelphia.

The Flyers have four games remaining in their season, and two of those games are against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. With the success the Flyers have had in Pittsburgh, the Flyers have good chance to pass the Penguins. 

The Flyers would never try to avoid home ice advantage, but from looking at recent history the Flyers might not have a big advantage at home. 

Regardless of which team has home ice advantage, the battle of Pennsylvania in the playoffs will be as exciting as ever. Both teams have great coaches, top level goaltending, MVP candidates and scoring depth throughout the lineup. 

Whoever wins the early matchup of in-state rivals will likely be a favorite to win the Eastern Conference. If the Flyers are able to get home ice for the first round of the playoffs, hopefully home ice does not turn into a disadvantage.