The Flyers let another lead slip away last night, falling 3-2 at the Rangers to extend their losing streak to two games.
Noel Acciari gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead in the second period, with Denver Barkey and Jamie Drysdale picking up the assists. Then the Rangers tied it on the power play with 6:08 left in regulation.
Tye Kartye scored the winner at 15:21 of the third. The Flyers are now 4-10-4, which puts them 30th in a 32-team league.
The last five games are where the pattern shows up.
The Flyers' own account marked the moment the game turned, noting that the Rangers' power-play goal tied it with 6:08 remaining.
Joseph Woll stopped 25 of 28 shots, so this wasn't a goaltending problem. The Flyers have scored 39 goals and allowed 61, a -22 goal differential, and late in games the gap between those two numbers keeps showing up on the scoreboard.
Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Wild started with Jamie Drysdale's costly turnover against Minnesota, and Rick Tocchet's team spent the night chasing. Last night was the opposite problem: the Flyers were ahead and couldn't stay there.
Where the Flyers keep losing games
Drysdale logged 26:23 in New York, easily the most on the team in a game they were trying to protect. When a defense is leaning that hard on one player, the third period is where it gets exposed.
The depth did its part on the scoresheet. Simon Benoit's goal in New York and Acciari's were the Flyers' two, and Tyson Foerster added an assist.
Blowing a lead is a habit now, not an accident. A team that sits 30th with a 1-6-1 road record can't keep handing games back and expect the standings to be kind.
Home hasn't been the fix either, with the Flyers at 3-4-3 in Philadelphia and 4-5-1 over their last 10.
Next up is Sunday at Calgary, and it's the first real chance for Tocchet's group to close out a game and stop the slide.
Quick hits
ST. LOUIS BLUESJeremy Rutherford just reported that Logan Mailloux has been recalled from his conditioning assignment and has joined the team ahead of the Nashville game. Good timing for a Blues blue line that wants options.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSJim Hiller said it "looks like" John Tavares will return Saturday against the Canadiens, per Mark Masters. That's a big boost for Toronto against a Montreal team that's rolling.
INJURYGlen Gulutzan just said Miro Heiskanen is doubtful for the Stars against San Jose on Saturday. Dallas can't be thrilled about that.
MINNESOTA WILDMichael Russo revealed that Jesper Wallstedt starts for the Wild tonight against the Sharks, with Calvin Pickard set to follow tomorrow. A clear back-to-back plan.
WASHINGTON CAPITALSTarik El-Bashir reported that Martin Fehervary was full-go at practice and will play Saturday against the Panthers, per Spencer Carbery. Welcome news on the back end.
Latest Stories
Flyers lean on Matvei Michkov for goals againTHE FLYERS HAVE A ROAD PROBLEMJoseph Woll made 25 saves Thursday night, and the Flyers still fell to 1-6-1 on the road heading into Sunday's game in Calgary.
Flyers carry a 1-6-1 road mark into CalgaryTHE FLYERS' NUMBERS BEFORE CALGARYThe Flyers are 30th in the NHL at 4-10-4 after last night's loss at the Rangers, and Joseph Woll's 25 saves weren't enough.
Flyers head to Calgary stuck 30th in the NHLTHE FLYERS ROAD TRIP HITS A WALLSimon Benoit scored his first goal as a Flyer, but Philadelphia still lost 3-2 at the Rangers on Thursday night.
Flyers let a lead slip as the road trip beginsTHE FLYERS LET ONE SLIP AWAYThe Flyers lost 3-2 at the Rangers on Thursday night, and Simon Benoit's first goal as a Flyer wasn't enough to carry the night.
Flyers lose a second-period lead in New YorkTHE FLYERS HIT THE ROAD TONIGHTThe Flyers open a five-game road trip tonight at Madison Square Garden, and Rick Tocchet's team can't afford a slow start.
Flyers open a make-or-break road trip at the RangersMARTONE STEPS INTO A BIG ROAD SPOTPorter Martone and Rick Tocchet met the media in New York today, and the Flyers open a five-game road trip against the Rangers tonight.
Porter Martone faces a Flyers test at the Rangers tonightTHE FLYERS MAKE A CALL IN NETThe Flyers just announced that Joseph Woll will start in net tonight against the Rangers, a call for a team stuck at 4-9-4.
Joseph Woll gets the Flyers' goalie nod in New York