Flyers secure East's final playoff spot; Panthers eliminated

The Philadelphia Flyers clinched the final available playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a win Saturday over the New York Rangers, thereby eliminating the Florida Panthers from contention.

Just when Philly couldn't get any wilder, the @NHLFlyers are about to turn things up. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/kVDs3pzwe8

- NHL (@NHL) April 7, 2018

The Flyers needed a single point to ensure they could not be caught by the Panthers, and proceeded to beat the Rangers 5-0 on the strength Claude Giroux's first career regular-season hat trick.

Philadelphia returns to the postseason after missing out a year ago. It last qualified in 2016, losing in six games to Washington in the opening round.

The Metrpolitan Division seeding remains up in the air, but the win bumped Philadelphia to third place, thereby setting up a potential first-round date with the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

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