Islanders 6, Flyers 1: Dave Hakstol's challenge goes unanswered in loss

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The Flyers were in the Halloween spirit Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center. 

Themed music played over the speakers, costume contests broke out in the concourse and spooky graphics flashed on the Jumbotron.

If fans left scared, it wasn't from the festivities. It was from their hockey team putting up a frighteningly loud dud in a 6-1 loss to the Islanders.

A day after head coach Dave Hakstol challenged his team (see story), the Flyers (4-7-0) did zilch to answer him against an Islanders (4-4-1) team that had lost four of its last five. 

The Flyers, who have allowed an NHL-worst 46 goals this season, have lost three straight and now kick off a four-game road trip.

• The Flyers had breakdowns, showed little life, found no rhythm, were mostly perimeter-oriented on offense and failed to score on the power play (1 for its last 20).

Nothing was good.

Things got ugly in the third period when the Islanders piled on three straight goals with the Flyers showing no resistance. After New York's sixth tally, fans gave up booing and simply filed for the exits (see story).

• Michal Neuvirth couldn't play hero in his season debut. He wasn't close to good enough to prevent the Flyers from stumbling again. He permitted some soft goals and was yanked after the sixth. This team isn't scoring and is a mess in front of its goalie.

• Once again, the Flyers allowed the opponent to score first, making it the 10th time in 11 games.

They trailed, 2-0, at first intermission. The second goal was not good. It came off a failed clear and multiple Flyers (Jakub Voracek, Nolan Patrick, Oskar Lindblom) were too slow in retreat as Anthony Beauvillier finished off a nice setup with 6:40 left in the opening stanza.

Following this point, the Flyers never felt in the game. A 2-0 deficit feels like 6-0 right now.

• After practice Friday, Hakstol pleaded for a spark. Ivan Provorov tried being the guy when he leveled the Islanders' best player Mathew Barzal late in the first period. The hit elicited a standing ovation from fans and a penalty on the Islanders.

However, the Flyers' power play whiffed on the opportunity and boos ensued.

• It's not good when Jori Lehtera is awakening your team from an offensive slumber. He put the Flyers on the board with a quick turnaround shot in the second period. Before that goal, the Flyers had been outscored 10-1 this week. They finished the week being outscored 13-2 in three defeats.

• Fourth-liner Corban Knight left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return.

• Think some fans are getting a little restless?

• The Flyers are off Sunday and then practice Monday in Los Angeles before playing the Ducks Tuesday at 10 p.m. on NBCSP. Anaheim, which has lost four straight, hosts the Sharks Sunday before welcoming the Flyers.

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