Penalty kill is killing Flyers' playoff chances

General manager Ron Hextall talks about the Flyers’ sad-sack penalty kill, which is tied for 29th in the 31-team NHL.If the Flyers miss the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons, the team’s ineffective penalty kill will get a brunt of the blame.

Deservedly so.

Hoping to begin their playoff push, the Flyers have allowed four power-play goals – two in each game – in seven chances since returning from the all-star break. That contributed mightily to a 5-3 loss in Washington and a 4-3 defeat in New Jersey.

Since Jan. 1, the Flyers have allowed 13 power-play goals in 36 chances, a staggeringly low 63.9 success rate.

For the season, they have been successful just 73.9 percent of the…