TORONTO _ James van Riemsdyk returned Saturday night to Toronto, the city where he turned into a star and earned a big free-agent contract with the Flyers in the summer.
"It feels a little odd," he said before facing his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, at Scotiabank Arena. "Almost like a stranger in your own house."
The Maple Leafs were not gracious hosts.
Oh, they did put together a classy highlight video of van Riemsdyk that they showed early in the game, causing the left winger to get teary-eyed as he waved to the crowd while they gave him a standing ovation.
But the Leafs also did this: They scored four first-period goals _ three by Andreas Johnsson _ in a 7-minute, 35-second span that chased goalie Cal Pickard en route to a 6-0 victory.
The Flyers (10-11-2) suffered their fifth loss in the last six games.
For the second time in three games, the Flyers allowed four first-period goals. Alex Lyon did it Wednesday in a 5-2 loss in Buffalo and was replaced after the opening period.
In between those dreadful performances, Pickard made 31 saves Friday and blanked the Rangers, 4-0.
Because of numerous defensive breakdowns, the Flyers spent Saturday's first period allowing a slew of two-on-ones and breakaways _ against a team that had lost two straight and was missing two of its best offensive players: top-line forwards Auston Matthews (injured) and William Nylander (unsigned restricted free agent).
The Flyers' up-and-down play this season is nothing new. They have been Team Inconsistent in Dave Hakstol's four coaching seasons.
If the trend continues, general manager Ron Hextall figures to make a major move _ whether it's shaking up the roster with a trade (Wayne Simmonds?) or changing coaches. Joel Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup winner as Chicago's coach, is available _ at least for now.
Nylander, 22, a center who collected 61 points last season, would obviously be a huge upgrade for the Flyers. He will not be eligible to play this season if he does not sign by 5 p.m. Saturday.
Pickard allowed four goals on six shots and looked over-hyped while playing against his former team and his former goalie partner with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, Garret Sparks, who was the Leafs' starter Saturday.
Pickard over-committed on Toronto's third goal, coming far out of his net on a two-on-one. Patrick Marleau picked up a loose puck on a rebound and scored into an empty net. That made it 3-0 with 12:16 left in the first.
Less than five minutes later, Johnsson, who entered the night with two goals this season, went in alone and scored on a backhander to complete his hat trick and make it 4-0.
Anthony Stolarz, the fifth different Flyers goalie this season, replaced Pickard and played brilliantly in the final 7:40 of the first, stopping Marleau on a breakaway and a two-on-one, and John Tavares on a breakaway.
Stolarz (32 saves on 34 shots) stopped the first 15 shots he faced before Josh Leivo finished a three-on-one, putting Toronto (16-8) ahead, 5-0, with 8:53 left in the second period. Tavares later made it 6-0 during a second period in which the Flyers allowed 19 shots.
The six-goal loss matched the Flyers' most lopsided defeat of the season. In their home opener Oct. 9, they were blasted by San Jose, 8-2.
