PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers had their nine-game point streak ended Tuesday. They believe the key to starting another streak is having short memories.

"You've got to shake it off as quick as possible," Flyers defenseman Mark Streit said. "At this time of the year you always want to win and every point is crucial. At the same time, you need a really short memory. A lot of key games, busy schedule. Things just happen. You don't want to lose, but it happens. You have to turn the page and move on and focus on the next one."

That comes Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres.

The Flyers' 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday was their first regulation loss since Jan. 19. Their 6-0-3 stretch got them within six points of the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot into the Stanley Cup Playoffs; the Bruins' shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday leaves the Flyers seven points back with 25 games remaining.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers have one of the best power plays in the NHL. With the way the New York Islanders have struggled killing penalties recently, the Flyers will put even more of an emphasis on using the man-advantage to their advantage.

"We've got to create some opportunities on the power play," Flyers coach Craig Berube said. "We need to work and skate and get power plays. And when we do have them we have to shoot pucks and make sure we're simple and getting pucks to the net and have traffic there. Just a simple power play; that's when we're effective."

Philadelphia is fourth on the power play (23.4 percent) and second at home (28.1 percent). But the Islanders have been shorthanded the third-fewest times in the League (139), so the Flyers know they will have to play fast and skate hard for any power-play chances.

PHILADELPHIA -- With eight straight losses (0-7-1) and three wins in their past 19 games (3-15-1), Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul said it's only human nature for he and his teammates to be in a foul mood right now when they face the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

However, he's been around long enough to know that things can change in a hurry.

"It feels right now like we need something to go right," Lupul said after the Maple Leafs' morning skate Saturday at Wells Fargo Center. "But that's not going to happen unless you come here with a positive attitude and expect to win the game. It's kind of ... it's a bit of a struggle. You need everyone to show up with a positive attitude but there hasn't been that much positive to build on. It takes having a good mindset and being mentally strong to come in here and be ready to go."

PHILADELPHIA -- One of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets are entrenched in a Stanley Cup Playoff spot this season is the way they've played after losses.

The Jets won their season opener and then lost four straight. Since then they've lost consecutive games five times, but no losing streak has been longer than two games. They're 13-4-1 after losses.

"I think we've done a good job resetting after losses, not letting them compound," Jets captain Andrew Ladd said. "I think it's just a mindset of rebounding, especially with our battle level and compete, and making sure we're giving ourselves a chance the next game."

Steve Mason will be in uniform for the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes, but as the backup goaltender.

Mason, who has not played since Jan. 10 because of a lower-body injury, took part in the morning skate Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center and said it's the best he's felt since getting hurt, and that even takes into account an illness that kept him from practicing Monday.

"Today was the best workout I've had since the injury," Mason said, according to the Flyers website. "Felt really good today. Been sick the past couple days, so the wind wasn't there, but overall I felt really good."

In Mason's absence, Ray Emery and Rob Zepp have split time in goal. Emery, who will start Tuesday, is coming off one of his best performances of the season, a 33-save win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 20.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins might be just the opponent the other team needs to see.

Each team is scuffling entering the game Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center. The Penguins are second in the Metropolitan Division but have lost two straight, are 4-6-2 in their past 12 and have seen their lead on the third-place New York Rangers shrink to two points. The Flyers have lost three of their past four and are 11 points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"I think especially the way Philly plays, usually physical, up-tempo, might be a good wake-up call for us," Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi said. "Gets you into the game early. You know it's going to be physical. Helps you get into a game, and a rivalry game definitely gets the blood flowing."

The Flyers have won five in a row against the Penguins, including a 5-3 victory Oct. 22 in Pittsburgh. The game will feature four of the top five scorers in the League, topped by Flyers forward Jakub Voracek's NHL-best 55 points and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who is third with 51 points. The Penguins' Evgeni Malkin and Flyers captain Claude Giroux are tied for fourth with 50 points.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Vancouver Canucks will have a mostly healthy roster when they play the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center.

Goaltender Ryan Miller, forward Nick Bonino and defenseman Christopher Tanev were among the players taking part in an optional morning skate. Miller had missed the past two games with the flu. Bonino and Tanev sat out practice Wednesday in Nashville.

They'll be welcome additions for a team that has lost three straight games.

"It's tough when a guy gets sick for a little bit," Bonino said of Miller. "Eddie [Lack] played great for us the last few games and it's too bad we couldn't get him a couple wins there. Definitely glad [Miller] is feeling better and I'm sure he'll be good tonight."

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers will start Rob Zepp in goal Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It will be the second NHL game for the 33-year-old Zepp, who was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Sunday after goaltender Steve Mason sustained a lower-body injury Saturday against the Boston Bruins.

Zepp made 25 saves in the Flyers' 4-3 win Dec. 21 against the Winnipeg Jets. According to Hockey-Reference.com, Zepp became the oldest player since the 1926-27 season to win his NHL debut.

"I liked his game in Winnipeg, liked his energy," Flyers coach Craig Berube said. "Going to need energy tonight. That's all. Just a decision I made."

PHILADELPHIA -- Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien said forward Loui Eriksson will be a game-time decision Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Eriksson missed the Bruins game Thursday against the New Jersey Devils after being slashed on the right hand during a game Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"It'll be a game-time decision," Julien said Saturday. "That's what I said [Friday] and that hasn't changed. He'll go for warm-up."

Eriksson is third on the Bruins with 25 points. He had 12 points in 13 games prior to getting hurt against the Penguins.

PHILADELPHIA -- Steve Mason will be in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers when they play the Washington Capitals at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.

Mason took part in the entire morning skate after sitting out practice Wednesday because of what the Flyers called general soreness. The Flyers said Mason went for an MRI on Wednesday but would not specify what part of his body was being checked.

"He's fine," Flyers coach Craig Berube said Thursday. "Just more of a maintenance day than anything [Wednesday]. He's good."

Flyers goaltenders are not available for comment on game days, but Mason's teammates were happy to see him looking like his usual self.

"We didn't really know what we were dealing with," captain Claude Giroux said. "Steve is a big part of this team. If he's ready to go, that's awesome."