COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It's been a while since the Flyers last won at Nationwide Arena -- 12 years, to be exact, with Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets extending the orange and black's winless streak in Ohio's capital to 10 games.
With the playoffs all but out of the equation, it wasn't a lack of effort that plagued the Flyers on Saturday. Dave Hakstol's team peppered Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky with 36 shots. The only problem, of course, is that Bobrovsky stopped every single one of them.
In addition to Bobrovsky's stellar act, Alexander Wennberg's 13th goal of the season -- a tip-in off of a slap shot from the point from Kyle Quincey -- was all Columbus needed to secure points 102 and 103 on the campaign.
"Well he's good, and he was really good tonight," Hakstol said of Bobrovsky.
The Russian-born netminder stood tall against the Flyers, a trend he's demonstrated since arriving in Columbus, improving to 8-1-0 with a pair of shutouts against his old team.
"Obviously he's done that quite a lot for them," Hakstol said. "He's had a helluva year and it's fair to say he had a huge impact on the hockey game."
Opposite of Bobrovsky was Michal Neuvirth, who was fantastic himself, just not as good as Bobrovsky. The newly extended goalie took the loss in his first start in eight games, despite allowing just one goal on 21 total shots. The lone blemish left the 29-year-old goaltender dejected in almost a "what if" manner.
"I was playing high so I was trying to stay patient," Neuvirth said. "I didn't expect anybody to tip it in front. Maybe I could've played it differently into my butterfly, I would have a better chance."
Although Neuvirth expressed disappointment, he was hardly the reason the Flyers have now dropped 13 of their last 15 games against the Blue Jackets. And while Bobrovsky played the role of a magician yet again, the orange and black's power play continued to sputter, going 0 for 3 on Saturday.
"Again, we're getting our chances and it's not going in," defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. "It's not like we're not getting shots so it's a matter of sticking with it and it'll come."
The second-year pro was talking about a power play that has now been held scoreless 40 times in their last 12 games, which has appeared to turn frustration into disgust throughout the room.
"We got to find something to get it going," mumbled a disappointed Wayne Simmonds.
"I don't know. I have no idea," added Jake Voracek when asked about the power play's vanishing act.
With eight games remaining -- all against Eastern Conference teams -- it's safe to say the Flyers are in need of a miracle when it comes to any sort of playoff talk. With four teams ahead of them in the standings, the Flyers will wake up Sunday morning no fewer than eight points out of the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot (see standings).
With or without them, however, the show will go on. Might as well play the role of the spoiler.
For all the frustration and confusion, one thing is certain: their next opponent (Pittsburgh) will be getting a very angry opponent.