The Flyers' blown third-period lead cost them a win and a stay at home. Jeff Carter, Danny Briere and company will start the playoffs in Pittsburgh after failing to gain a point against the Rangers Sunday.
Sean Avery and Blair Betts scored third-period goals to rally the New York Rangers to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Sunday, spoiling Philadelphia's shot at home-ice advantage against Pittsburgh in its opening playoff series.
"We were going to have to play there at some point anyway," Briere said. "If we get to a Game 7, we'll talk it about if we get there."
The Flyers (99 points) needed only a point in the finale to secure the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and home ice in the best-of-seven series with Pittsburgh. Instead, the rematch from last season's conference finals will start in Pittsburgh.
The Flyers went 2-2-2 against the No. 4 seed Penguins and three of the games were decided by one goal.
"I think this group has always found a way to do it the hard way, but they have always found a way to do it," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "It's an exciting matchup with great young players on both teams and great stories throughout the year on both teams."
The Rangers are the No. 7 seed and have a first-round matchup with Southeast Division champion Washington.
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New York already knew its seed and matchup going into Sunday.
Avery tangled with the Flyers' Scott Hartnell near the benches at the end of the game. Hartnell later called Avery "a punk" on NBC 10's Sports Final.
"We should have had the mentality of going out there and get a two-goal lead or three-goal lead," Briere said. "We just sat back and waited to see what was going to happen."
Carter capped a career season with his 46 goals, second only to Washington's Alex Ovechkin's 56 in the NHL. He enters the postseason on a sizzling hot streak with five goals and eight points in his last six games and a point in 10 of his last 14 games.
Carter should be happy to see the Penguins on the playoff bracket: He has three goals and eight points against them this season.
Here is the playoff schedule for the Flyers/Penguins series:
Game 1 - Wednesday, April 15 @ Pittsburgh -- 7:00 p.m.
Game 2 - Friday, April 17 @ Pittsburgh -- 7:00 p.m.
Game 3 - Sunday, April 19 @ Philadelphia -- 3:00 p.m.
Game 4 - Tuesday, April 21 @ Philadelphia -- 7:00 p.m.
*Game 5 - Thursday, April 23 @ Pittsburgh -- 7:00 p.m.
*Game 6 - Saturday, April 25 @ Philadelphia -- 3:00 p.m.
*Game 7 - Monday, April 27 @ Pittsburgh -- TBD
* - if necessary
