A week ago, the Flyers were riding high after wins in six of their last eight games. Two games this weekend changed all that.
The Flyers followed a sloppy 4-3 loss to the Blue Jackets with a sloppier 6-3 loss in Montreal against the Canadiens.
There were points there for the taking in both games. The Flyers trailed the Blue Jackets by a goal for almost all of the third period. The Flyers entered Saturday's third period against the Canadiens down one as well. But Montreal out-scored the Flyers, 3-1, in the third, easily earning the win.
"We tried to string a comeback together, but when you give six goals up it’s hard to come back from that," Brayden Schenn said. "Our team defense tonight wasn’t where it needed to be.
"Montreal is a good team, and they’re going to come at you hard. If you’re not going to play tight defensively, they’re going to put pucks in the back of your net."
Three of those six goals came on Montreal power plays. After allowing three power-play goals to Columbus on Friday, they allowed another three power-play goals on Saturday.
"We’re getting spread out a little too much on the penalty kill," head coach Craig Berube said. "We’re leaving the front of the net vulnerable. It was clear tonight on three goals. We have to be a lot better. It’s little things: we win a faceoff but we don’t clear the puck down, shooting lanes."
"When you have an opportunity to clear the puck, you have to clear it out," Matt Read said. "And it’s about keeping it to the outside, and blocking a shot when you have to."
Even with the struggling penalty kill, Ray Emery tried to shoulder some of the blame. In most cases on Montreal's six goals, Emery wasn't at fault.
"I have to make some saves there on the penalty kill," Emery said. "When you let six in, you’re not holding up your end of the bargain."
The weekend was a descent back to Earth for the Flyers, who were riding high at the end of a tough October. November is about to get tougher and the Flyers are playing their worst hockey at the moment.
Their next opponents – the New York Rangers on Wednesday, Minnesota Wild on Thursday and Saturday against Columbus again – provide a chance to get back to the level of play they had in a week where they went 3-0-0.
Two losses can quickly change the outlook of a season. At 7-7-2, the Flyers are suddenly on the verge of heading south just when they appeared to be catching fire.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
