Flyers’ Coach on Rangers Fans Taking Over Wells Fargo Center

In one sense, it was the Philadelphia Flyers’ lowest point of the season Wednesday night.

Not because of the way they played, or the fact they lost for the eighth time in the last nine games.

Fact is, the Flyers played very well — especially in the second period, when they turned the game in their favor — before dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Uh, I mean … the Wells Fargo Center.

But at times, it sounded like the game was played in New York City.

It was like an Army-Navy football game. The crowd was divided. Half the crowd was rooting for the “visiting” Rangers, the other half for the “home” Flyers.

Most of the chants throughout the game were from the New York fans. The boos, too, which they directed at former Ranger Tony DeAngelo whenever he touched the puck.

It was loud, it was comical. It was also refreshing to hear the fans go back and forth with each other and liven up a game that had no meaning for one of the teams. (You know which one.)

Building percolates

In short, the Wels Fargo Center was alive, and had arguably more noise than at any Flyers game this season.

Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella was asked about a sometimes-hostile environment in his team’s own building.

“We make our own bed,” he said after the loss. “We need to get this in the right direction where maybe someday those tickets are hard to come by.”

He meant that Flyers fans will have purchased the tickets, making it difficult for Rangers followers to get into the building.

“Don’t blame anybody else,” he said. “Blame us. This is what we’ve made here.”

Dreadful times

Counting this season, the Flyers will have one playoff series win in 11 years. This will be the third straight season they missed the playoffs, the first time that has happened since the early 1990s.

Torts may only be in his first year with the Philadelphia Flyers, but he is well aware of their history.

“Hopefully along the way, we get this turned around,” he said. “I’m not sure when, but get it back to where it’s a tough ticket. and maybe the Rangers fans just aren’t allowed in the building because we have it filled with our people.”

Hey, a man can dream, right?

The Flyers are “not there yet, obviously,” Tortorella said. “… It’s up to us to get out of it.”

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