The Flyers aren't using their injuries and illnesses as an alibi for their recent struggles.

Lately, they have been playing without four of their top 12 forwards.

"We can't make excuses," coach John Stevens said. "I think everybody goes through stretches where they lose some key personnel. There are a lot of teams in the league that have gone through it already."

The Flyers have lost five of their last six games, including Saturday's 1-0 defeat in Atlanta.

"I'm not disappointed with the effort, but we have to find a way to sharpen up offensively," said Stevens, whose team outshot the Thrashers, 34-18, but was blanked by Johan Hedberg. "We have to find a way to get more pucks to the net. Sometimes there's a fine line between scoring and not scoring - and we have to start crossing that line."

General manager Paul Holmgren said he was "disappointed in the results. Every team has injuries, and we just haven't handled it as well as we should have."

In the loss to Atlanta, the Flyers were missing a trio of injured players - Simon Gagne, Blair Betts and Darroll Powe - along with the flu-ridden Danny Briere.

The Flyers (13-10-1) miss the offense provided by Briere and Gagne.

Briere was feeling better yesterday and will return Thursday against visiting Vancouver, while Gagne (abdominal/hernia surgery) is going to resume skating with the team at today's practice and is at least three weeks from returning, Holmgren said.

"Obviously when you have guys like Briere and Gagne in the lineup, it makes a difference, but guys like me and James [van Riemsdyk] have an opportunity to play a lot, and I think we just have to step up," said Claude Giroux, who has 13 assists but just three goals in 24 games.

Captain Mike Richards said the Flyers need to "bear down around the net and go back to getting some ugly goals."

The Flyers have scored a total of four goals in their last three games - all without Briere (10 goals), who sat out two of those contests because of an NHL-mandated suspension.

Holmgren and Barry Hanrahan, the Flyers' assistant general manager, denied online reports that Briere is bothered by a groin problem related to last year's injury.

"He has the flu. Nothing more to it," Hanrahan said.

Briere could spark a power play that is 0 for 9 in its last two games and, after being No. 1 in the league, had slipped to No. 5 entering last night (24 percent success rate). The club's penalty kill had dropped to 15th with an 80 percent success rate.

As for Stevens, Holmgren gave a lukewarm response when asked to evaluate his coaching this season. "We're ninth in the conference, and I'd like to be in a better position," he said, "but the coaches are working hard."

He paused.

"But it goes back to what I was saying about the players," Holmgren said. "The results need to be more positive."

Those players could control their coach's future.

Breakaways. Brian Boucher could see increased time if he continues his hot streak. Boucher has a 1.45 goals-against average in his last four games, while starter Ray Emery has a 4.71 GAA in his last four performances - all losses. . . . The Flyers are averaging 3.5 goals per game at home and just 2.6 per game on the road.

Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.