Simon Gagne

The Flyers knew exactly what they needed to do if they wanted to keep their playoff hopes at a manageable level.

They didn't execute though, and it was seen clearly in their 5-2 loss to New Jersey. They were docked with seven giveaways in the loss, leading to some quick first period goals that put them in an early, insurmountable hole.

An Andrej Meszaros give away behind the net gave the Devils their first goal of the game.

Meszaros coughed up the puck to the slot and Adam Henrique put a shot on net. Patrik Elias intercepted the shot in front of Ilya Bryzgalov and beat the netminder backhanded to put New Jersey up, 1-0.

(Pictured: Devils goalie Johan Hedberg makes a save. Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Something had to have been said before the game because a different Flyers team was out on the ice.

The Flyers controlled the tempo early, kept Buffalo mentally out of the game, and gave a much better team effort that didn't resemble last week's edition of the Flyers.

They had to battle with Buffalo though, who was throwing the body around and trying to draw the Flyers into making mental mistakes with the physical game. In the end, the Flyers overcame it, winning a nail-biting 3-2 game in which head coach Peter Laviolette saw some positives.

(Pictured: The puck gets passed Ilya Bryzgalov, but was then saved by Brayden Schenn before it crossed the goal line. Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

All it takes is one ill-fated blast from the point to ruin a season.

At the time, that unfortunate situation struck Scott Hartnell down on January 24—a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils. A rocket propelled puck off the stick of Kimmo Timonen broke the first metatarsil in his left foot, keeping him out of action for a while.

Hartnell has since returned, and in his return, he has scored a goal and added two assists since then. The team also won two of its last three games in its homestand at the Wells Fargo Center since the #19 orange sweater stepped back onto the ice.

(Pictured: Scott Hartnell celebrates after scoring his first goal on Monday. Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Flyers played that 60-minute game Scott Hartnell was talking about on Monday.

The Flyers jumped on Washington early and often, capitalizing on a tired Caps team. Hartnell and Claude Giroux each tallied two points, leading Philadelphia to a 4-1 win over Washington Wednesday night in Philly.

(Pictured: Claude Giroux. Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)