BUFFALO - For the Flyers, yesterday afternoon's short-hop charter flight to Buffalo after practice had to be a little uncomfortable.

The problem wasn't the bumpy flight, which was caused by unstable lake-effect snow, hail and rain amid 35-degree temperatures over western New York.

The Flyers, instead, had to worry about a different kind of air: The oxygen recirculating in their cabin. On a plane filled with a team ravaged by the flu bug, there undoubtedly were a few nasty germs floating about the Delta-owned Airbus A319.

On Wednesday, five players were forced to miss practice because of the epidemic. Yesterday, almost all of those players returned - except for defenseman Matt Carle.

Carle, too sick to practice, was brought on the plane for the trip. Coach John Stevens expects Carle - who is tied for sixth in the NHL defensive scoring race - to be ready to play tonight against the Sabres.

"We'll have to do much like we did in the last two games and try to use our whole bench," Stevens said. "We'll try to cut down on the minutes on some guys and utilize everybody that's playing in our lineup."

With or without everyone, the Flyers face a tough test tonight against a Buffalo (9-2-1) team that has turned heads in the Eastern Conference. The first-place Sabres are a stingy 5-1-1 playing in front of the home crowd at HSBC Arena.

The Sabres, a club that has never really been an offensive juggernaut, have done an excellent job of limiting opponents' chances this year. They only have one scorer who has netted double-digit points (Tim Connolly, 11 points) but they have given up an NHL-low 24 goals in 12 games.

"I think the big change in Buffalo this year has been their ability to keep the puck out of their net," Stevens said. "It seems they're more committed to playing defense right now than they maybe were in the past and I think it's showing in their record."

Ryan Miller, a legit contender for the Vezina Trophy, has something to do with that. He owns the NHL's best save percentage at .941.

"Miller has really proven to be one of the upper-echelon goalies in the league," Stevens said.

"They have some really skilled forwards and I heard their goalie is playing pretty well," forward Scott Hartnell said. "We're going to have our work cut out for us."

Injury report

 

Danny Briere (lower groin strain) and Ryan Parent (groin strain) did not make the trip. Besides struggling with the flu, Stevens said neither player was ready to return from their injuries.

Briere received a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection a week ago in an effort to spur healing. He skated on his own for 30 minutes on Wednesday.

Parent reinjured his groin last Saturday against Carolina. General manager Paul Holmgren said Parent would be out this week. Both players are doubtful for tomorrow's game against St. Louis.

If Matt Carle is unavailable for tonight's game - his status will be confirmed during today's morning skate - the Flyers will need to recall a defenseman from Adirondack, which is a 5-hour drive across New York.

Slap shots

 

The Flyers last lost at HSBC in Buffalo on Dec. 21, 2007. They swept the Sabres (4-0) in the season series last year, outscoring Buffalo by a 20-9 margin . . . Ray Emery will make his fourth consecutive start tonight in goal. Backup Brian Boucher, who last played in a 4-1 loss to San Jose back on Oct. 25, could make his second start of the season tomorrow against St. Louis. John Stevens said he was not sure who would play that game. Emery could play both games of the back-to-backer because the Flyers will have 4 days off before they play Ottawa next Thursday . . . The Flyers will have a pep rally today at 4 p.m. at McDonald's in Morrisville, Pa., with giveaways and free Arctic Orange milkshakes.

For more news and analysis, read Frank Seravalli's blog, Frequent Flyers, at http://go.philly.com/frequentflyers.