Claude Giroux
The Flyers take on the Buffalo Sabres, who are now hot on their heels just three points back in the standings, trying to avoid an 11th straight loss.
Cam Atkinson and Jake Voracek face their former teams for the first time on Thursday night. For the Flyers, it also may be the second time already this season that they reach double-digits on a winless streak.
On one night, the Flyers made it a game late in the second, then had an early third-period goal dash their hopes. The next, they carried the play and took a lead into the late stages of the third before finding a way to lose another game.
The Islanders were able to get the game tied and force overtime late in the third. Eventually in the shootout, both teams went nine rounds before the winning goal was scored, giving the Islanders a 4-3 win over the Flyers to extend the losing streak to nine games.
The Flyers’ streak hit eight games on Monday with the 4-1 loss on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Islanders are just starting to make up some ground in games played, and the distance between them and the Flyers is rapidly decreasing.
The Flyers look to avoid making that an eight-game losing streak as they take on another team struggling to find its footing this season. The New York Islanders are the opponent for the next two nights for a home-and-home, starting Monday night on the road for the Flyers.
The next chance for the Flyers to end their current six-game losing streak comes on Saturday night against the New York Rangers.
Thursday’s 3-2 Flyers loss to the Bruins was one final game in a calendar year that has been as frustrating and disappointing as ever. Another loss in regulation brought the team’s current losing streak to six, and put a fitting conclusion to a 365-day period to forget.
This is a game with two teams going in opposite directions. The Flyers have lost five straight games going back to Dec. 30. The Bruins are fresh off a 5-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night and have won five of their last six games since New Year’s Day.
Due to COVID issues affecting the Flyers, Tuesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes is postponed with a make-up date yet to be determined.
