The Philadelphia Flyers have lost four of their last five games, but help is near.
Their next game, you see, is against San Jose, a team that has opened the season with 11 straight losses (0-10-1) and has been outscored by a 55-12 margin, including a 10-2 home loss Saturday to struggling Pittsburgh.
In their last two games, they have been outscored by a combined 20-3. They are the first NHL team to allow 10 goals in consecutive games since Boston in 1965-66.
In other words, the Philadelphia Flyers (5-6-1) figure to get their sputtering power play straightened out and get back to .500 when they meet the Sharks on Tuesday in San Jose.
Philly’s power play is in an 0-for-15 funk, and has converted just 9.7 percent of its chances this season, putting them 30th in the 32-team NHL.
“We’re trying some different things, and we’re getting some good looks,” said Cam Atkinson after Saturday’s 5-0 loss to Los Angeles at the Wells Fargo Center. “But ultimately, we have to start scoring some goals, right?”
Atkinson, who had a game-high five shots in Saturday’s loss, hinted the Flyers are trying to do too much and need to simplify things on the power play. “Take what (opponents) give us.”
The Sharks have a sad-sack penalty kill. San Jose’s PK is clicking at just 69.2 percent, 31st in the NHL.
How bad are the Sharks?
Last in the NHL in scoring, last in goals allowed, and their 11-game winless streak is tied for the second-longest in NHL history to start a season. The dubious record for most winless games at the beginning of a season: 15 by the 1943-44 New York Rangers.
The Sharks are getting there.
And, so, yes, the Flyers should get some help on Tuesday.
In case you were curious, the Flyers’ longest winless streak to start a season was six games in 1999-2000 and again in 2008-09.
Breakaways
Tuesday is the start of a four-game road trip for the Philadelphia Flyers, who also play in Anaheim, Los Angeles and Carolina. … Philly is 2-2-1 on the road, 3-4 at home. … After Saturday’s one-sided loss, coach John Tortorella said he hadn’t talked to the trainers yet and didn’t know if Carter Hart or Sean Couturier would make the trip.
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