5 observations: After loss at Wild, should Flyers call up prospect Danick Martel?

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Five observations from the morning after the Flyers' closer-than-it-looks 3-0 loss in Minnesota:

Telltale stat. When the Flyers chase the game, they almost always lose. Simple as that.

On Tuesday, they allowed the first goal for the 10 time this season; they have lost nine of those games.

They have trailed at the end of the first period five times this season – and lost all five of those games.

Wasted excellence. Lost in the Flyers' offensive ineptness is the stellar play of goalie Brian Elliott and the young defense. The Flyers had a significant territorial advantage Tuesday and allowed a season-low 20 shots.

Take away the two empty-net goals and the Flyers have allowed a total of two tallies in the last two games –and lost both of them.

Why do I have the feeling the offense will soon get going….just as the goaltending goes into a slump?

Loooong drought. If you're scoring at home, the Flyers haven't scored in 156 minutes and 9 seconds. They have never been blanked in three straight games. They can set unwanted history if they are shut out Thursday in Winnipeg, which is where former Flyer Steve Mason is playing.

Yes, they have run into a hot goalie (hello, Devan Dubnyk) the last two games, but they are not creating enough traffic in front of the net, and when they do get a Grade A chance (see Dale Weise's third-period breakaway Tuesday), they are not finishing the deal.

The numbers are ugly. Consider:

— Jordan Weal has one goal in his last 15 games.

— Wayne Simmonds, who has been battling several injuries, is goal-less in his last 10 games.

— Weise has one goal in his last nine games.

— Travis Konecny has one goal in his last 14 games.

— Scott Laughton is goal-less in his last 13 games.

— Three players have yet to score this season: Michael Raffl (18 games), Taylor Leier (16 games), and Jori Lehtera (12 games).

Power-play woes. Think the power play misses Brayden Schenn a little?

That would be a resounding "yes."

The Flyers' power play is 1 for its last 18 in the last six games.

Suggestion time.  Nobody asked me, but…..

When the team returns home on Saturday, isn't time to see what Danick Martel can do?

The 5-foot-8, 167-pound winger has an AHL-leading 14 goals in 15 games with the Phantoms. He plays with speed and grit and, most importantly, he's demonstrated a knack for finishing scoring chances.

Give the kid a few weeks here and see what he can do. If it doesn't work, send him back. No harm, no foul.

The Flyers aren't going to contend for a Stanley Cup this season, so why not use the year to find out something about the young prospects?

Martel, who is having his third straight strong season with the Phantoms, deserves a look-see. And left winger Oskar Lindblom, who is in his first full season with Lehigh Valley, should also get some call-up consideration after he gets some more AHL seasoning.