The Flyers turned in a second-period effort that would suit a last-place team. Steve Mason was the victim.
Craig Berube pulled the goalie that made 46 saves on Monday to keep his team in the game as Mason's teammates floundered in front of him again.
For Berube, the message was the same following Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings as it was on Monday: the Flyers are not competing enough.
"We had some guys not competing hard enough, and it results in goals against," Berube said. "It can’t happen. You need everybody on your team competing at the highest level, otherwise you will not win."
The Flyers road woes continued as did a seven-game stretch of games that has the Flyers slipping. Since winning six of eight games following a win over Colorado on Nov. 8, the Flyers are 1-5-1.
Three weeks ago, the Flyers were knocking on the door to third place in the Metropolitan Division with a chance to make a run at the Islanders and Penguins at the top. That was their compete level then. Now, that 1-5-1 stretch has the Flyers stuck on 19 points in sixth place in the division, still just three points out of third, but fading.
At least that's what their goalie thinks.
"When you look at the standings, it’s pretty easy to see things slipping away," Mason said. "You see points up for grabs, and other teams are grabbing them and you’re not. You’re slowly falling behind."
The Flyers held a players meeting after the game in an attempt to get back on the right track.
"I think we need to look ourselves in the mirror here," Claude Giroux said. "Show a little attitude here. We played a good first and third period, and the second period we got a little bit away from our game and it showed on the scoreboard."
"You never want it to have to come to that," Mason said. "What was said everybody had known, but it’s always good to have some guys vocal in the locker room."
So this is the Flyers latest attempt at revitalizing the season and giving their playoff hopes some life. It won't be an easy start either.
The Flyers have two games over the weekend in a home-and-home against the Rangers, who defeated the Flyers, 2-0, last Wednesday. Then they face the Sharks, Ducks and Kings on a West Coast road trip.
But for the 8-10-3 Flyers, now is the time to turn it around. If they start to head in the right direction here, they could still save the season like last season.
This is a tough road, especially when not all players are showing the effort the Flyers need. It's just another piece of adversity the Flyers must face, something their coach thinks they haven't done well.
"I was pleased with a lot of guys, and there were guys I’m still not pleased with," Berube said. "We need to play through adversity better and stick with the game plan a little bit more."
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
