There's a particular joy in hockey that doesn't show up on the stats sheet.
It's not a highlight-reel goal, a big save, or a postgame celebration after clinching a playoff berth. It's quieter, meaner, and, for teams out of the hunt, incredibly satisfying: walking into another team's barn and blowing up their plans.
That's exactly the fuel interim head coach Brad Shaw is hoping the Philadelphia Flyers will run on in these final six games of the season.
Although the team on track to miss the playoffs this season, the Flyers are not done fighting. Far from it. Their mission now? To make life as miserable as possible for teams clinging to hope. To be the proverbial thorn in the side. To spoil someone's party.
"We don't have a lot of other things to play for," Shaw said after practice on Friday. "We can play the spoiler role, though. And I've asked our guys to try and maintain that focus for six more events. We're not going to be on the ice outside of the games very often, but we're going to try and keep the energy level high within the games."
People have said Matvei Michkov shoots to score in practice because he wants it to translate to games. You can see his focus on shooting to score here. pic.twitter.com/yP4X9PiTNA
— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) April 4, 2025
And that—playing with pride, grit, and togetherness—is still very much worth chasing.
Finding Meaning in the Spoiler Role
For a group that's fought tooth and nail all year long, this isn't about mailing it in. Shaw's message is clear: just because the standings say you're all but done doesn't mean the season is over. There's always something to play for—your teammates, your city, your crest. And now, there's the chance to disrupt the hopes of those still clinging to the playoff bubble.
"If we can go in and spoil somebody's party—there's a few things in hockey that feel really good, and that's one of them," Shaw said. "It's fun to go in and be the spoiler. It's fun to go in and take the life out of a building. That's a hard thing to do. It's hard to do for 60 minutes, long enough to take a team that's really believing in themselves like Montreal."
This isn't just coach speak. Shaw knows exactly what he's asking for. He knows how hard it is to be emotionally dialed in when there's tangible to gain from the scoreboard. But he also knows this Flyers team—its character. its heart, its defiant energy.
They've been counted out before and never backed down. So why stop now?
Montreal, New York, and a Chance to Disrupt
The Flyers have their sights set on two major targets in the coming days: the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers, who they will play Saturday and next Wednesday, respectively.
The Bell Centre is notoriously loud when the Canadiens are rolling. The Rangers are hungry to sharpen their edge as they continue fighting for a wild-card spot. Both arenas are looking for jubilation—and the Flyers want to give them silence.
"There's certain things we can play ...
