Ian Laperriere News

Scott Hartnell scored from the high slot with 5:27 left, and Brian Boucher made 28 saves in Philadelphia Flyers' 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.

For the first time in almost a year-and-a-half, both Matt Carle and his brother David have had a chance to settle down.

The forwards were recalled from the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms and in the lineup last night against Colorado.

Colorado was not a hospitable host, making the Flyers feel unwelcome in the Pepsi Center from the drop of the puck.

The Flyers' Ian Laperriere, right Philadelphia is Ian Laperriere's fifth NHL team, so he has been through "first-game-back" nights before.

When Betts is healthy, everyone knows the impact he can have as a defensively responsible faceoff and penalty killing expert.

Usually the Flyers are having records set, or milestones made, at their expense by the New Jersey Devils.

The Shark Tank has been a House of Horrors for the Flyers. Last night, Dany Heatley - skating with the NHL's top scoring line with partners in crime Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton - bit the Flyers with a hat trick to give the Sharks a convincing 6-3 victory at HP Pavilion.

LOS ANGELES The Flyers' winning ways continued on Tuesday night as they hung on for an important 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center in the opening battle of a five-game road swing.

The Flyers start a four-game Western swing in Los Angeles tonight and continue the most grueling part of their odd early-season schedule.

Frequently, the target was New Jersey Devils netminder - who could go down as the best goalie to ever play the game by the time his career is over.

Not in our house. And definitely not on Dave Schultz Hall of Fame Night. That was the message Ray Emery and the Flyers sent the New Jersey Devils in their 3-2 victory in front of a sellout crowd at the Wachovia Center on Monday night.

There are lots of reasons why the Flyers have poked their heads out of the weeds of mediocrity and gone on a five-game win streak, starting on Halloween.

"We all kind of play the same game - hard-nosed, get in on the forecheck, and take the body," says Dan Carcillo, a smarter player this year.

It would be easy to look at the Flyers' five-game win streak, in which they have outscored opponents by a 24-7 margin, and assume the offense has carried the team to a tie for third place in the Atlantic Division.

Could history be in the making in the Atlantic Division? Since the NHL re-aligned its divisional format in 1998, no division has placed all five teams in the playoffs.

Flyers center Jeff Carter may have injured line mates Danny Briere and James van Riemsdyk back for tomorrow's game against visiting Ottawa.

After seeing a handful of players skip practice and just as many cough their way through, Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger sat down at his locker stall Wednesday, grabbed a blue surgical mask and began answering questions from a reporter.

Flyers' Ole-Kristian Tollefsen battles Sabres' Michael Grier for puck. To read Frank Seravalli's game story, go to: www.philly.com/dailynews/sports 1 of 2 That meant that the Flyers' other two lines contributed to only 14 percent of their 72 points.

There is no denying that Friday night's win in Buffalo was a huge two points for the Flyers.