After 1-3 homestand, fading Flyers will try to regroup on the road vs. Rangers

One of the few “positive” developments of the Flyers’ four-game homestand: Because of COVID-19 seating restrictions, they only heard boos from 15% of the Wells Fargo Center’s capacity.

Yeah, it wasn’t a very good homestand.

Poor starts. Shoddy goaltending. Defensive breakdowns.

Those were some of the Flyers’ traits during a 1-3 homestand that would have been winless if they didn’t overcome a 4-2 deficit and beat worst-in-the-NHL Buffalo, 5-4, in a shootout.

The three other games were losses to Washington, including a 5-4 defeat Saturday in which goalie Brian Elliott (three goals on 10 shots) was replaced by Carter Hart (two goals on 13 shots) early in the second period.

The Flyers will try to regroup Monday at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. Alain Vigneault’s team has lost five of the last seven, and four of its last five, falling three points out of a playoff spot.

“Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us right now because we’re going through a tough time,” Vigneault said after the latest loss. “We all have to battle together and continue to strive to get our game better. I do like a lot of parts of our game at this moment. I do think we’re trending in the right way. Results-wise, maybe not. As far as playing the game as it should be and permit you to win, I do think we’re trending in the right direction.”

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Vigneault, mindful the Flyers are outshooting teams lately, reiterated those upbeat thoughts after Sunday’s fast-paced practice in Voorhees.

“You aren’t going to play a perfect game on the ice, but we are preparing the right way,” he said. “... Right now, the results obviously aren’t going our way, but we’ve got a group of guys, good teammates, that play hard for one another.”

The Flyers’ goalies have an ugly .839 save percentage in their last seven games. Some of it is because they have played poorly, and some of it is because, while the Flyers are limiting shots, their defense is allowing too many golden scoring chances.

“It’s important we don’t compound everything,” Vigneault said. “You don’t bring the last game into the game that is in front of you and try to play the perfect game, because you can’t.”

Hart (3.60 GAA, .887 save percentage), who has struggled mightily, will get his first start in three games Monday. He has been spending extra time working with goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh.

“It was good just to slow things down a little bit and get back to the basics and get some good, detailed work in,” Hart, 22, said Sunday.

In their last seven games, the Flyers have allowed a total of 29 goals, or 4.1 per game. If that doesn’t change, it will be a long road trip. The Flyers play two games against the Rangers and two against the Islanders.

“When you go on the road, especially in a year like this, it’s a lot of time together at the hotel,” said left winger James van Riemsdyk, who leads the Flyers with 12 goals. “We’re not where we want to be obviously right now, in regards to the standings. I think there’s definitely things we can build on.”

Van Riemsdyk said there are “obviously some things for sure we can clean up. The beauty of the schedule is you get another chance to play a game in a couple nights. You are playing against teams you are competing with [and] right around you in the standings. You are able to make up some ground pretty quick.”

Vigneault stressed “there is one thing we can control — our response.” He said the Flyers have been falling behind in games but have rallied back, “and this is why I have faith in the group and believe in this group that we’re going to come out of this strong and better — and we get a chance to prove it” Monday night.