Hakstol’s admission of losing streak might be first step toward solution
PHILADELPHIA » No matter how miscalculated the hockey math might seem to be for the Flyers on a nightly basis, coach Dave Hakstol tried to set the record straight Tuesday night.
First, the Flyers coach acknowledged that his team had indeed lost eight consecutive games heading into a home date with the San Jose Sharks.
Hakstol, who recently had been putting energy into talks about his team garnering points in so many recent games rather than discussing the end (losing) result of them, indicated it was time to get real about this losing streak, which had been hanging over this club like a dark cloud.
“You talk about the reality, absolutely,” said Hakstol, whose Flyers were 0-3-5 in the previous eight games heading into Tuesday night’s Sharks expedition. “You have to address it. That’s part of your daily life and that’s reality. We address things for what they are. At the same time, you have to simplfy the task.”
The task for the Flyers heading into the third period Monday night in Pittsburgh was to protect a twogoal lead. Nothing new there, but far too difficult.
The Penguins had the game tied within the first 1:46 of the period, en route to a 5-4 overtime victory. It was the sixth time in the last eight games the Flyers lost by coming from ahead.
It’s only November, but they seem stricken by the Groundhog Day syndrome.
“We can’t go back and replay yesterday’s hockey game,” Hakstol said. “We have to try to learn out of it. And you have to have your main focus on playing today’s hockey team.
That focus gets more difficult with every passing loss. The Flyers dropped to 8-9-7, an emblem of mediocrity. Yet the start by other Metropolitan Division teams renders that record as much worse than it would appear.
At 23 points, the Flyers were dead last in the Metro. They were six points out of the last playoff spot, which was held by Pittsburgh.
*** Andrew MacDonald made his return Monday after missing 15 games with a leg/ knee injury. He is expected to steady the often unsteady Flyers defense.
MacDonald had a moment to forget 40 seconds into the third period against the Pens, however, when he was rung up for a tripping penalty. That led to Patric Hornqvist’s power play goal that ignited the Penguins’ comeback.
“That’s a tough one to take,” Hakstol said. “Again, there’s always a domino effect as to why something happens on a play. That’s a tough penalty but at the same time we have a 3-1 lead going into the third period. Even by giving up the power play goal there we still have a lead and I think we have to have more maturity over the next couple of shifts to push the game back in our direction, and we didn’t do that last night.”
*** NOTES » Seldom used Michal Neuvirth was the starter in net for the Flyers against the Sharks. He looked rusty early, as expected . ... Flyers’ 0-3-5 mark over eight games previous to Tuesday included five overtime or shootout losses in six games. It’s also part of a 3-6-7 period of malaise since Oct. 24. That’s three wins in 16 games even by Flyers math standards.