Penguins provide a bigger concern than wacky forecast

PITTSBURGH » So the way hockey fortunes in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have gone in opposite directions the last two seasons, it might be meteorologically correct to say it would be a hot day in February before the Flyers beat the Penguins.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the weather isn’t cooperating as well as originally expected.

Rather than another day in the 70s, it is only expected to be an upper-50s kind of mild Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field. And a rather fierce cold front is then expected to sweep through, which could bring thunderstorms in the afternoon, and changing rain by the 8 p.m. start of this Stadium Series game between these cross-state rivals. That could precede wind-blown snow showers during the game. Should be fun, if not too cool. “You don’t know what to expect,” Jake Voracek said after a dinnerhour Flyers practice Friday. “So I’m sure it’s going to be a little different tomorrow. But it’s such a cool experience when you walk out of that locker room. When you walk out on that ice and see all those people fired up it’s one of the most amazing experiences of your hockey career.”

It could be that way for several younger Flyers, but as their teammates will continually stress to them, there is much more to this Metropolitan Division game than the weather eye will see.

The Flyers are going into this game against an opponent they’ve beaten just once over the last five games. And they’re going in five points out of the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Winners of just two of their last eight games, the Flyers need a fast turnaround or they’ll soon be buried with other non-contenders.

“For us, every game is a huge game,” Voracek said. “So if you play Pittsburgh or Colorado (Tuesday) it doesn’t matter. You have to get two points. Obviously you always want to beat Pittsburgh so I’m sure it’s going to be a great game.

“A few guys might be a little nervous tomorrow but that’s normal. We’re not used to playing in front of 60,000 (people). Everybody has to find a way to chip in somehow and we have to find a way to win the game.”

For added motivation, as if they needed it, the trade deadline looms Tuesday afternoon. Having watched the state of his team lately, general manager Ron Hextall’s opinion of his team might have changed somewhat, too.

Asked Friday if he still believed his team can make the playoffs, Hextall said, “Yeah, I do.”

But that opinion comes with the understanding that Hextall once again won’t be seeking help for his struggling team at the trade deadline.