Flyers lose ugly one, have dropped 3rd straight in regulation for first time originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Flyers lost badly Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center with a 5-1 decision to the Stars.
They allowed two power play goals, a shorthanded goal and two at even strength.
The Flyers (7-6-2) are 0-4-0 in the second game of back-to-back sets. They lost to the Senators, 4-1, Saturday afternoon at home.
Over the weekend, their penalty kill gave up four goals and the power play went 0 for 9.
John Tortorella’s club has lost three straight in regulation for the first time this season. It has been outscored 14-4 in this stretch. Three of the goals surrendered have been empty-netters.
“I’d be a lot more upset with a loss if I don’t think they’re trying,” Tortorella said. “You can boo us, you can talk s— about us, I will back those guys because they are trying. If it was an effort problem, then it’s a different story.
“I’m very pleased with the effort. I don’t give a s— what people think about out here.”
The Flyers don’t see the Stars (9-5-1) again until April 6 when the clubs meet in Dallas.
• The Flyers fell down 2-0 for the seventh time in 15 games.
Matej Blumel beat Felix Sandstrom on a nice move just 2:36 minutes into the game. The Flyers were slow to get back defensively.
With under two minutes left in the first frame, Esa Lindell scored one through traffic.
Sandstrom finished with 26 saves on 31 shots.
Dallas netminder Jake Oettinger came in with a 1.90 goals-against average. He stopped 37 of the Flyers’ 38 shots.
• In the opening minute of the third period, the Flyers went on a power play with a chance to cut into the Stars’ 3-1 lead.
But the Flyers allowed Luke Glendening to score just 10 seconds into their power play opportunity.
That pretty much sealed the game.
Jason Robertson added a power play goal and fans headed for the exits.
• The Flyers entered scoring 2.57 goals per game, the second fewest in the NHL.
On Sunday, seven of their 12 forwards were 25 years old or younger.
No doubt they’re starting to really miss guys like Cam Atkinson (upper body), James van Riemsdyk (broken finger) and Sean Couturier (back).
All three have two seasons of 30 or more goals to their name.
The Flyers are inexperienced right now and having to win dogfights consistently is not easy. You have to be disciplined and structured. The Flyers haven’t been disciplined the last two games, nor have they been sharp.
• Kieffer Bellows entered the lineup in place of Wade Allison, who suffered an undisclosed injury during the second period of Saturday’s game.
There has been no word on Allison’s status.
Tortorella has said he doesn’t know enough about Bellows yet. The 24-year-old winger was a healthy scratch the previous four games. In his first game since Nov. 2, Bellows committed a slashing penalty that resulted in a Joe Pavelski power play goal.
Not even 24 hours ago, Tortorella was belaboring his team’s “dumb penalties” after the loss to Ottawa.
Bellows’ infraction was ill-timed. The Flyers had cut the deficit to 2-1 in the first minute of the second period. Over eight minutes later, Dallas cushioned its lead back to two with the power play opportunity.
• The Flyers open a three-game road trip Tuesday when they visit the Blue Jackets for the second time in six days (7:30 p.m. ET/ESPN+, Hulu).
The club took a 5-2 loss Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
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