Sharks skate past Flyers in 3-1 win

PHILADELPHIA – The Flyers are reeling; difficult to put it any other way.

On Tuesday night, the San Jose Sharks extended the Flyers’ woes into a ninth straight loss, 3-1.

Defenseman Dylan DeMelo (#74) of the San Jose Sharks is checked by Center Jori Lehtera (#15) of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Claude Giroux scored just 48 seconds into the game to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead but the Sharks responded with the three goals and a solid defensive effort.

“We’re frustrated,” Giroux said. “The position we’re in right now, it’s really frustrating. It’s not the position we thought we’d be in right now. The only way to get out of it is to go back to work.”

Aaron Dell made 22 saves.

“I thought we were a little loose in the first, gave up some 2-on-1s,” San Jose head coach Peter DeBoer said. “[Dell] was big. Thought [we were better] in the second and especially in the third. Third was a really clean period. To be able to play like that with the lead, we didn’t throw any pucks away, we broke out real well, we supported well.”

The offense came from Chris Tierney, Joe Thornton and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

Thirnton’s line was paired against the Flyers’ top line most of the night.

“That was the matchup they were looking for. I don’t know if anyone wishes to play against Joe Thornton. If you want to, you can have him. I’m not afraid of that. I’m not afraid of putting him out there against anybody,” DeBoer said.

The Flyers players held a players only meeting after the game.

“We’ve had leads, we’ve had chances to win in overtime, shootouts, whatever it may be. We haven’t done it. It’s unacceptable. This isn’t right,” Wayne Simmonds said after the game.

[WATCH: All Sharks vs. Flyers highlights]

Center Sean Couturier (#14) of the Philadelphia Flyers checked by Defenseman Justin Braun (#61) of the San Jose Sharks.

Michal Neuvirth made 31 saves as the Flyers dropped to 8-10-7 with the loss.

Nine straight losses tends to put focus on a team’s general manager and Ron Hextall was pressed after the game.

“I still believe we’re a playoff team, yes,” Hextall said. “We need to be better at some critical moments. We have to continue doing what we’re doing because we’re doing a lot of good things.”

The Flyers cannot afford the loses as the rest of the Metropolitan Division has improved over the last few weeks and the leaders are starting to put distance between themselves and the also-rans.

“If you look at the way we’ve played from the start of the year, I’m pretty good with the way our team has played,” Hextall added. “Pretty good with the way our team has played the last nine games. Tonight, we ran out of a little bit of energy. Results lately are not very good. We deserve better, but we haven’t gotten better. We have to find a way.”

Right Wing Wayne Simmonds (#17) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Goalie Aaron Dell (#30) and Center Daniel O’Regan (#65) of the San Jose Sharks.

Right Wing Wayne Simmonds (#17) of the Philadelphia Flyers fights for the puck against Goalie Aaron Dell (#30) of the San Jose Sharks.

Center Jori Lehtera (#15) of the Philadelphia Flyers screens Goalie Aaron Dell (#30) of the San Jose Sharks.

Goalie Michal Neuvirth (#30) of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a stop against Center Tomas Hertl (#48) of the San Jose Sharks.

Center Joe Pavelski (#8) of the San Jose Sharks in on goal against Defenseman Robert Haag (#8) and Goalie Michal Neuvirth (#30) of the Philadelphia Flyers