VOORHEES, N.J. - You don't have to remind the Flyers that they've gone three straight games without a win - two of those losses at home to opponents (Panthers, Devils) who were last in their division at the time.
And the Flyers (9-9-2) certainly don't need to be reminded this is the same exact point in the season a year ago when they went through a pummeling stretch of winless hockey with a 0-5-5 record from Nov. 11 to Dec. 2.
The first 20 games of the season are a near carbon copy of what transpired a year ago when the team also had a .500 record at 8-8-4. The question moving forward is can the Flyers learn from last year's mistakes and breakdowns that led to a 10-game winless stretch?
"We were in a big hole last year. We're not in a big hole this year," Jakub Voracek said Tuesday. "It could give us a little more confidence that we don't have to chase as much as we did last year, but we have to find more consistency in our game."
After taking the previous two days off - Sunday was the Flyers Wives Carnival and Monday was a designated day off - the Flyers returned to practice showing a little rust.
Dave Hakstol felt confident in what he's seen over the past three games to keep the same line combinations during Tuesday's practice, including leaving James van Riemsdyk on the third line with Jordan Weal and Wayne Simmonds. Before Saturday's five-goal performance, sparked by a remarkable four-goal outburst in the third period, the Flyers had gone 110:38 without a goal.
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"We've generated more in those last three games than we have in the previous five games on average," Hakstol said. "The opportunities are coming. We weren't able to finish. We talked about different ways that we could do a little better, simple things, get guys to the net. Obviously, the most important thing is to finish on enough of those to put us in a good spot."
In order to avoid the snowball from building and a potential fourth straight loss, the Flyers will have to derail a red-hot Buffalo Sabres team Wednesday that has won six straight games, all by one goal, during its longest winning streak in nine years.
"They have a couple of new additions to their team and they're working really well right now. It's a dangerous group. It's going to be tough for us," Voracek said. "So far every game has been tough. It's a 50/50 chance every single night. It's been pretty even so far this year, but it's going to start breaking down after about 45 games.
"You're going to see a bigger picture of what's going to happen down the road. It's too early to judge right now."
Lyon could see pair of starts
With three games compacted into four days over the Thanksgiving holiday, Alex Lyon is expected to receive one and possibly two starts this week. Lyon was the first goaltender off the ice during Tuesday's practice as a sign that he could be called upon Wednesday night in Buffalo.
Lyon said there's an NHL mindset he needs to work his way into whenever he receives the call up from Lehigh Valley.
"In the American League, you have from Sunday until Thursday typically to sit at your home and relax," Lyon said. "Call a spade a spade, the stress level is a little bit less in the American League."
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