Sabres 6, Flyers 5 SO...Sabres 3, Flyers 2

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

My high school baseball coach had this saying about errors. He said that once is a mistake, twice is a trend, and three times is a problem.

I guess six times means women and children first.

The Flyers, who started this season oh so well, have now dropped six straight after losing the back end of a home-and-home against Buffalo last night, falling 6-5 in the unrecognized shootout loss. Thomas Vanek scored with 7 seconds left after an absolutely horrendous icing call late in the 3rd period, and after the Flyers failed to score on a bunch of powerplay opportunities, Ales Kotalik scored in the shootout. Which, by the way, is the eighth straight shootout loss for Philadelphia. This means that at the Christmas break, the O&B find themselves in the bottom of the Atlantic division. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards each got two goals, including a shorthanded goal by each, but it still was not enough as the Flyers continue to let teams stay in the game. I don't know about you, but it seems like this team hasn't been playing strong hockey ever since the NHL issued its warning. Earlier this season, the Flyers wore teams down by playing physical, hard-hitting hockey. Now, opposing teams are skating at will around our defenders and into Martin Biron without any fear of retaliation. There would be no way that a player like Maxim Afinogenov could get away with sweeping Scottie Upshall if this team wasn't under the microscope of Colin Campbell, who is unworthy of the boldface type. Hopefully the team can right the ship over the break and come out with some fight against Toronto on Thursday.

Well, that's it for now. Given that it's Christmas and the Flyers are off until Thursday, so long for now...