By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

When the schedule was initially released, this date was circled on the calendar for two participants in tonight's game. An offseason trade between the Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets sent two veteran players to new destinations.

Those two players face their former teams 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.

Game time is 7 p.m.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Two more games in the books and the losing streak is up to nine games. The first game against the New York Islanders was close throughout the first two periods before the Islanders got a pair of goals. The Flyers responded, and made it a game going to the third, but another early goal by the Islanders seemingly dashed all hopes of avoiding an eight-game streak.

In the second game on Tuesday, the Flyers were convincingly the better team for a majority of the night. But when you’re mired in a slump like this one, or the one from earlier in the season, the win to snap out of it doesn’t come easy. Much like over the weekend, the Flyers were closing in on that elusive win before it was essentially ripped away.

Here are five takeaways from the home-and-home with the Islanders.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers had a lead in the third period on Saturday, and just like that it was gone and so was their chance to snap the losing streak. On Tuesday, they were in position to snap the streak again, taking the lead and carrying it into the final five minutes. 

That's when the Islanders were able to get the game tied and force overtime. 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.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Less than 24 hours after meeting for the first time this season, the Flyers and New York Islanders are right back at it. This time, they will take the ice at Wells Fargo Center, as the Flyers try to avoid being on the cusp on another double-digit losing streak.

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.

Game time is 7 p.m.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

There really just seems to be no end in sight for the Flyers. Much like their 10-game losing streak just over a month ago, things continue to be in a free-fall. 

That was the case again on Monday night. The Flyers had two power plays in the first period and couldn't generate more than one shot on goal. The Islanders weren't cashing in either, but eventually took advantage of a few of their opportunities, getting a 4-1 victory to hand the Flyers their eighth straight loss.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Just when it seemed like the Flyers might be in the driver's seat to get their first win of 2022, the New York Rangers came right back to tie the game and eventually claimed the win on Saturday. That stretched the team's current losing streak to seven games. 

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.

Game time is 7:30 p.m.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Whether this current slide hits double-digits or not, it’s extensive enough that it doesn’t seem to make a difference. If it were to get to 10 games, the Flyers would be able to claim two such streaks in the same season, thus essentially giving away a quarter of their season. And it may not even be half over when that happens.

Game 37 for the Flyers went as many others this season have gone. There were mistakes. There was a slow start. There was a superior opponent eventually taking over and getting the two points in the end and leaving the Flyers with nothing.

It’s really become a familiar pattern for a team that is consistently fragile, just waiting for the next thing to go wrong rather than doing the things that can help it keep going right. Just like on Thursday night, the Rangers skill and talent levels became too much in a game that was certainly competitive, but not deserving of the final result.

Here are five takeaways from the Flyers 3-2 loss to the Rangers.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

For a team still in search of its first win of 2022, perhaps one of the newest members of the lineup scoring his first goal could provide a spark. With 9:49 left in the third period, it seemed like that was the case. Cam York's first NHL goal had the Flyers in front.

But the New York Rangers stormed right back to tie it up just 37 seconds later. Less than three minutes after that, they had the goal that decided the game, taking a 3-2 win on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center to extend the Flyers losing streak to seven games. 

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers were in a position to potentially get at least one point out of Thursday's game in Boston. After falling behind 2-0 before getting a shot on goal, the Flyers tied the game in the second period and were within a goal for the duration of the third period. Ultimately, the loss was their sixth straight.

The next chance for the Flyers to end that streak comes on Saturday night against the New York Rangers. 

Game time is 7 p.m.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

After five days off, the Flyers lineup finally resembled something more like their usual group as anticipated on paper. But when that group took the ice on Thursday, the first period was nowhere near better.

The Flyers fell behind again. The Flyers lacked energy and the effort was in question. It was called one of the worst first periods they have played by Cam Atkinson after the game. It could have easily been a period with four goals for the Bruins. Instead, it was just two.

That was enough for the Flyers to chip away and eventually even things up, before the special teams game came back into play and ultimately proved to be the difference in the game again.

It 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.

Here are five takeaways from Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Bruins.