Andrei Svechnikov

The Carolina Hurricanes are next to face the Flyers on Saturday evening and are still challenging for the Metropolitan Division title.

An early power-play goal proved to be the difference, as the Flyers were held off the board by Pyotr Kochetkov and the Hurricanes in a 1-0 loss.

The Hurricanes have won eight of their last 10 games entering Thursday, while the Flyers have lost nine of their last 11 games.

Samuel Ersson allowed a goal on the first shot he faced in his NHL career and was eventually pulled after allowing five goals. In relief, Carter Hart was back in goal, until he was forced to exit with an injury, sending Ersson back in during a whirlwind 6-5 loss for the Flyers to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.

Before reaching the break, the Flyers will face a red-hot Carolina Hurricanes team that has won seven straight games, 11 of their last 12, and has not lost in regulation since Nov. 23.

The Flyers claimed Kieffer Bellows off waivers on Thursday, and he'll make his debut with the team on Saturday night when they face the Carolina Hurricanes.

The road doesn't get any easier as the Flyers face another team ranked in the top three in the league. The Carolina Hurricanes await for a Saturday afternoon matinee.

After scoring with under five minutes to play to tie the game, Brett Pesce got the game-winning goal with 18 seconds left in overtime to hand the Flyers a fifth straight loss, 4-3, at Wells Fargo Center.

It hasn't been an easy schedule for the Flyers, having to go up against three of the top four teams in the Metropolitan Division in consecutive games. They will do so for the third and final time against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday afternoon.

The Flyers were blown out again, this time by a 6-3 margin against the Hurricanes on Friday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center, sending the Flyers to their fifth straight loss.