Last Friday morning Flyers fans woke to the unwelcome news that one of the highlights of the blue line this season had been sent down to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

The first divisional game between the Flyers and Penguins this year was a miserable, forgettable night for the Flyers as Sidney Crosby’s four-point night highlighted a 7-3 win over their longtime foes from Broad Street Monday night.

The first two periods Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center were horrible. However, the third was a keeper and Owen Tippett’s four-point night was capped off with the overtime winner as Philadelphia edged Columbus 5-4.

After Wednesday’s sloppy loss to the Red Wings, the Flyers were right back at on Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center, and came out with a third consecutive regulation loss.

Joel Farabee, Sean Couturier, and Travis Konecny have spent 135 minutes on the ice together this season, the most of any Flyers line combination, but they have struggled in the defensive zone.

The Flyers looked listless, had some brain cramps (as did one referee) and came up short in their come back. The result? A 6-4 loss to the host Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night.

“When everybody is receiving the same type of treatment or coaching, it seems to have a better result,” said Keith Jones.