Flyers' Hextall: 'I still believe we're a playoff team' amid 9-game skid

No need to panic.

That's the message Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall shared following Tuesday's loss to the San Jose Sharks, the team's ninth-straight defeat.

The latest loss pushed Philadelphia to 8-10-7 on the season, but the team's recent play hasn't been indicative of its record. Five losses have come after regulation and two others have been decided by two or fewer goals.

"We're not playing poorly," Hextall told reporters Tuesday. "To look objectively at our team right now, to say we're playing poorly? No. Are we shooting ourselves in the foot at times? Yes, we are.

"I still believe we're a playoff team. We need to be better at some critical moments. But part of it, we need to continue to do what we're doing because we're doing a lot of good things."

The Flyers sit six points back of a playoff position. The team missed last year's postseason by seven points and hasn't failed to qualify for the playoffs in back-to-back years since 1994.

On Tuesday, frustrations over the losing skid spilled into the stands, as fans chanted for coach Dave Hakstol's firing, and later booed the team as it left the ice.

The Flyers have three days to prepare for their next contest, and possibly their first victory in more than three weeks, when they take on the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

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