Rangers edge Flyers in shootout; time to embrace 5th seed

Well, that certainly wasn't the outcome I was looking for. While I'm no Robert Esche fan, he played a fantastic game last night -- as did the Rangers' Kevin Weekes. The shootout loss puts the Flyers three points behind the Rangers with seven games to play. While not completely out of the race for the division, it will be very tough for them to catch the Rangers. The Flyers are now a virtual lock for fifth place in the conference, garnering them a first-round matchup on the road against Buffalo (whom the Flyers just happened to play on Friday night). My suggestion would be for the Flyers to accept their fate and rest some players for a couple of games before the playoffs start. The two Peters -- Forsberg, who has been coasting a bit anyway despite what Rich Hoffman thinks, and Nedved -- immediately spring to mind with their various ailments. Nedved especially, considering how nagging groin injuries can be. Regardless of whether or not Forsberg is rested -- and my money says he isn't -- he will definitely show up to play once the playoffs start. With 154 points in 133 career playoff games, this is a player who rises to the occasion when the games matter most. Keep in mind, Forsberg has already given up his spleen to help his team win in the playoffs.