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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers have transformed from the worst team in the NHL to not-so-bad in the East.Their recent run toward respectability could net them the playoff berth that seemed inconceivable before the All-Star break.Oskar Lindblom Youth Corey Crawford Jersey , Michael Raffl and Scott Laughton scored in the second period, and hard-charging Philadelphia beat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Monday night to inch closer to a wild-card spot.“It’s been realistic for us for a while,” Flyers center Nolan Patrick said. “Everyone believes. That’s our goal and that’s what we’re pushing toward.”The Flyers were 16-23-6 on Jan. 12 and even the faithful fans had all but lost hope for a playoff appearance, thinking their favorite team was about to play out the string under new general manager Chuck Fletcher and interim coach Scott Gordon.Not so fast.Led by rookie goalie Carter Hart, the Flyers reeled off an eight-game winning streak over late January-February to climb out of the NHL cellar and have now won four of five games to move toward the eighth seed.Columbus, which sits in eighth in the East, lost 2-0 to the New York Islanders on Monday and Montreal was idle. Both teams have 79 points, but Columbus holds the tiebreaker.The Flyers have 76 points with 13 games remaining and what once was a lost season instead has the team thinking playoffs.“It’s getting closer and closer, for sure,” defenseman Radko Gudas said. “We can’t be looking at the big picture, right now. It’s been working for us looking at the game ahead.”Playing the NHL-worst Senators certainly helped.Chris Tierney beat Brian Elliott Duncan Keith Jersey , subbing for the injured Hart, for his eighth goal of the season in the first period in front of a listless crowd.But the Flyers perked up in the second and ripped off three goals against Craig Anderson in a scoring frenzy that had Gritty dancing. The Flyers tied it on a bit of a pinball play — Shayne Gostisbehere fired a slapper off Sean Couturier’s knee and the puck pinged off Lindblom’s skate for the quirky goal.Raffl tipped in his sixth goal of the season for a 2-1 lead in his 400th career NHL game, and Laughton followed with his 11th late in the period.“We’ll see where we end up,” Raffl said. “It’s a little bit too much if you look at the big picture.”The Flyers are 6-1-1 over their last eight and are as close to a wild-card spot as they’ve been since November, before they fired general manager Ron Hextall and coach Dave Hakstol.Flyers fans finally started a “Let’s go Flyers!” chant in the waning minutes and they cheered when the Blue Jackets’ score flashed on the big screen.Filip Chlapik scored his first goal of the season with 3 minutes left but it was too late for the Senators in their fourth straight loss.“You can’t come down to the end and hope to get two against a good team,” Tierney said.The Flyers held on and meaningful games in April suddenly seem on the horizon.“We’re a pretty confident group, right now,” Raffl said. “We’re just finding ways to win games.”NOTES: Laughton has points in five straight games. … Both teams have new coaches since their last meeting in November (Hakstol-Gordon for the Flyers; Guy Boucher-Marc Crawford for the Senators). … Flyers F Jakub Voracek served the first of a two-game suspension for interference against New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk.UP NEXTSenators: host St. Louis on Thursday.Flyers: Host the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals on Thursday. DENVER (AP) — Eric Staal and the Minnesota Wild have their timing down. Too bad they can’t pass on the down time.Staal had two goals, including the tiebreaker on a second-period power play, Devan Dubnyk made 20 saves and the Wild rolled into the All-Star break by beating the slumping Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday night.“You certainly wish you could keep playing if they’re going to play like that,” Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. “It was really fun to watch.”Tune in again on Feb. 1 for Wild hockey.“We’re going to use it to our advantage and be able to recharge http://www.officialblackhawksproshop.com/authentic-adidas-gustav-forsling-jersey ,” said Charlie Coyle, who had a goal and an assist. “Down the road, we’re going to have more juice in the tank.”For the Avalanche, the break couldn’t come at a better time as they finished 3-7 in January and lost ground in the Central Division chase.Tune in again on Feb. 2 for Avalanche hockey.“Rewind and get your mind off of things if that’s what you want to do,” Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “Study the game and make sure you come back hungry, because we’re going to need it.”Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Suter also scored for the Wild, who earned their fourth win in five games to remain in the thick of the playoff picture. Staal and Suter had goals on separate 5-on-3 power plays.Staal had another big performance, giving him three goals and two assists over his last two games.“He’s reminding me of this time last year, when he started to go and find his legs,” Boudreau said. “We’re going to need it. Every team needs the big boys to play. When the big boys play well, we can play with anybody.”Carl Soderberg and Tyson Barrie scored for the Avalanche. Philipp Grubauer stopped 23 shots as he got the start over Semyon Varlamov with Colorado searching for consistency in net.“I don’t think he had a chance on any of those goals John Hayden Jersey ,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “It’s not a goaltending loss.“I’m still confident in our team, but nights like this when we don’t play in a mature team game, then it bothers me because I know we’re capable of it.”Dubnyk flashed his All-Star form to improve to 18-12-1 all-time against Colorado. That’s his most wins versus one opponent.Staal broke a second-period tie during a two-man advantage — and another missing a stick. On the play, Colorado forward Matt Calvert broke his stick and couldn’t cover Staal down low. Staal knocked in a pinpoint pass from Mikael Granlund through the middle.“Classic Granlund,” Coyle said of the pass. “That’s a pretty goal.”With 22.1 seconds remaining in the middle period, Coyle made it a 4-2 advantage. That was more than enough for Dubnyk, an All-Star for a third time. Still, Suter tallied another in the third with a pair of Colorado players in the penalty box.The Avalanche took a one-goal lead on two occasions in the first period, only to be answered in short time. After Soderberg scored, Staal tied it up 1:08 later. And after Barrie gave Colorado a 2-1 advantage, Spurgeon soon knotted it back up with a liner over Grubauer’s glove.Before the game Authentic Jonathan Toews Jersey , Colorado honored All-Stars Mikko Rantanen, MacKinnon and Landeskog with a tribute. The linemates have combined for 199 points this season, including MacKinnon and Rantanen picking up assists on Barrie’s goal.Minnesota and Colorado are now idle for the rest of the month due to the All-Star break and the bye week.“Try and carry the momentum when we get back,” Staal said. “But we’re definitely going to enjoy the break.”NOTES: Wild C Eric Fehr (lower body) could be back after the break. He’s missed nine games. … Wearing No. 77, D Brad Hunt was in the lineup after being acquired by the Wild in a deal with Vegas on Monday. Hunt played college hockey at Bemidji State in Minnesota and his wife is from the state. “We have a baby on the way. She’s excited for him to be born in Minnesota,” Hunt said. … Avs D Erik Johnson (head) missed a second straight game.UP NEXTWild: Off until Feb. 1 when they play in Dallas.Avalanche: On hiatus until Feb. 2 when they host Vancouver. Barrie said for the break he’s going to “find a beach somewhere and relax.”