Flyers creep closer to wild card position

PHILADELPHIA – The Flyers moved to within three points of the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference on Monday night with a 302 win over the visiting Ottawa Senators.

Center Scott Laughton (#21) of the Philadelphia Flyers grabs the rebound in front of his goal as Defenseman Ivan Provorov (#9) knocks down Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (#7) of the Ottawa Senators

Brian Elliott made 20 saves to get the win.

Michael Raffl helped the cause with a goal and two points in the win.

“That’s nice to know, but we’re focusing on the next game here, taking it a game at a time and see where we end up,” Raffl said. “Sounds a little too much if you look at the big picture. … We’re a pretty confident group right now and we’re finding ways to win games.”

Oskar Lindblom and Scott Laughton also scored for the Flyers.

“We said it from the beginning to be ready, and they kind of jumped on us and then we kind of found our feet,” Laughton said. “We did a really good job in the second period with sustained pressure in the zone and our [defensemen] were moving pretty well, cycling around the zone. I thought we did a good job in the later part of the game.”

The Flyers are 6-1-1 in their last eight matches and improved to 34-27-8 overall.

“Your whole team can’t be comprised of goal-scoring and skill,” Flyers coach Scott Gordon said. “You have to have different elements on your lines. … You look at [Laughton and Raffl], they play some heavy minutes, they can grind it out in the offensive zone and make it hard for the opposition, and that can change momentum so the next line has an easier time because the previous line for the opponents couldn’t get off the ice. Those guys are invaluable. They’re just as important as the guys that are putting up the big points.”

They are sniping at the heels of the Columbus Blue Jackets for that final wild card spot.

On the other side of the ice, the Senators are 1-10-1 in their last 12 and 23-41-6 over all

“We’re doing the best we can to make it exciting,” Senators forward Zack Smith said. “We’re a young group here. Our main goal is get better every night. I think we’re doing that, we’re making strides.”

Chris Tierney and Filip Chlapik had the Sens goals.

Center Travis Konecny (#11) and Left Wing Michael Raffl (#12) of the Philadelphia Flyers earn assists on a goal by Center Scott Laughton (#21)

[WATCH: All Senators vs. Flyers highlights]

Craig Anderson made 33 saves in the loss.

“They’re battling for a playoff spot and they played hard the entire night. For us, we’re all just battling for jobs at this point and just trying to play as hard as we can for each other. It’s a tough season, so we’re just trying to show up every night and make it a game,” Ottawa’s Cody Ceci said after the game.

Goalie Craig Anderson (#41) of the Ottawa Senators makes a glove save.

Defenseman Radko Gudas (#3) of the Philadelphia Flyers controls two Ottawa Senators players along the boards which led to an odd man rush and a goal by Philadelphia Flyers Center Scott Laughton (#21)