Surging Flyers move into playoff spot with win over slumping Blackhawks

The Philadelphia Flyers are certainly peaking at the right time.

Radko Gudas scored the winner midway through the third period as the Flyers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Wednesday night.

The Flyers leapfrogged the idle Detroit Red Wings and moved into the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with the victory. Philadelphia dispatched Detroit 4-3 on Tuesday and still has a game in hand.

The Flyers won their second straight game Wednesday and picked up their eighth victory in the last 10 contests. Their most recent wins haven't been against bottom-feeders, either.

The Blackhawks lost their fourth consecutive game and fifth in their last six.

Philadelphia hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins in an interstate matchup on Saturday before embarking on a four-game road trip, while the Blackhawks travel to Winnipeg to face the Jets on Friday night.