With only three games left on the schedule, the Flyers clinched a playoff birth Tuesday night for the 33rd time in their 41 year history with a win over the Florida Panthers at the Wachovia Center. On a night when both the Sixers and Phillies were also playing, the Flyers provided the only highlight of the evening.

“It feels awesome, to be honest with you,” Flyers coach John Stevens said. “I just told our team you’ve got to have a great year now to get into the playoffs. Not just a good year. You have to battle through a lot of adversity, and I thought the way we did it was great.”

The Flyers are currently the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, despite being tied with the Carolina Hurricanes with 97 points. Right on their heels are the Pittsburgh Penguins with 95 points. Both the Hurricanes and Penguins have also clinched playoff births.

Despite being down 1-0 after a Brett McLean wristshot just over four minutes into the second period, the Flyers would battle back and earn their shot at Lord Stanley’s Cup.

The Flyers would tie the game a little over 10 minutes later on a bang-bang play by Matt Carle and Joffrey Lupul. Carle came racing down the right side when he backhanded a quick pass from behind the net to Lupul, who was right infront of Panthers’ netminder Tomas Vokoun. Lupul promptly one-timed the pass into the back of the net, tying the game at one.

The game would be ultimately one a little over seven minutes into the third period on an unassisted snap shot by, who else, Jeff Carter. It was Carter’s 45 goal of the season, by far the most on the Flyers. Carter also leads the team in points, with 82.

“This is what you play for – to have a chance for the Stanley Cup,” Carter said. “But we still have a lot of work to do.”

The Flyers have largely limped into the playoffs, winning just six of their last 11 games. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, have won nine games in a row, and will likely be the Flyers first round opponents. The Flyers will have to win their final three games if they hope to match the Hurricanes momentum and intensity come the playoffs.

A lot of that will depend on the play of goaltender Marty Biron, who has been very inconsistent of late.

“Marty looked like himself again,” Stevens said. “It was a real important game for Marty, important for his confidence and important for our team.”

As goes Biron, so go the Flyers. He was a huge part of the Flyers postseason success last year, and will ultimately be the defining factor in how the team fairs this postseason.

The Flyers take the ice again on Thursday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers are currently the eighth seed in the East and are fighting for their playoff lives. The Flyers did them a favor on Tuesday night by beating the Panthers, who are just two points behind the Rangers. Every game from here on out is playoff hockey.