Jeff Carter's line is the hottest in the NHL.

   Carter and wingers Scott Hartnell and Joffrey Lupul have scored eight of the Flyers' nine goals in the club's last two games. During that span, the trio has accounted for 17 points.

   In today's 3-2 shoot-out loss in New Jersey, Carter scored his 25th goal to take over the league lead.

   The 23-year-old center won't be selected by fans as a starter in the All-Star Game _ the league didn't even put him on the ballot _ but he is a shoo-in to be added to the squad.

   While Carter's Old City Line _ all three players live in Center City _ has been sizzling, Mike Richards' line has been slumping lately and will try to get untracked Tuesday against visiting Ottawa.

* * * * * * * *

    Defenseman Randy Jones, coming back from hip surgery, played his first game of the season today. As a result, 18-year-old Luca Sbisa was a healthy scratch. Coach John Stevens will play Sbisa Tuesday and probably rest Andrew Alberts.

    In today's game, Jones played 20:12 (26 shifts) and was a minus-1.

* * * * * * * *

   The Flyers, now 14-2-4 in their last 20 games, made a nice comeback from a 2-0 deficit and sent the game into OT on a late goal by Lupul, who has excelled since being placed on Carter's line.

   The Flyers continue to struggle in shoot-outs; they are 1-3 in shoot-outs this year after going 3-6 last season.

 * * * * * * * * 

   The Flyers are hopeful goalie Marty Biron can play Tuesday; he has been sidelined the last three games because of the flu. Anetero Niittymaki has played admirably as Biron's replacement.

   * * * * * * *

    Concern Dept.: The Flyers continue to struggle on faceoffs. They won just 20 of 61 draws today, a 33 per cent success rate.

    Another concern: The penalty kill is slumping _ probably because the team is shorthanded too often and the unit is getting tired. The Flyers have allowed at least one power-play goal in seven of their last eight games.

   On the flip side, the Flyers' PP is clicking. In their last 10 games, the Flyers have 17 power-play goals.

  * * * * * * *

   Bottom line: The Flyers have overcome a dreadul 0-3-3 start and deserve a B-plus for the season. That's impressive when you realize the club has played most of the year without the injured Danny Briere.

   Give me your grade on the club through the season's first two-plus months.

  _ Sam Carchidi

   In isn't every day that a goalie can be declared the difference in a 7-1 win.

  Today, however, was one of those games.

   The Flyers were badly outplayed for two periods, but Antero Niittymaki was Parent-like as he made 39 saves and carried the club to the win.

   After two periods, the Flyers held a 3-0 lead _ two of the goals were scored by Jeff Carter _ but were outshot by a 39-13 margin.

   Again, Niittymaki was the difference. He finished with 47 saves as the Flyers improved to 14-2-3 in their last 19 games.

    In the first period, the Flyers were oushot, 25-6, but held a 1-0 lead. It was the most shots ever taken in a period by a Flyers opponent on Philadelphia ice.

    Niittymaki "basically stood on his head," winger Scott Hartnell said.

   "If you throw everything at him and get 25 shots and your down at the end of the period, you usually can't maintain it for three periods," Washington coach Brice Boudreau said.

    It was Niitttymaki's best perfomance of the season _ and one of the best of his career.

    "Our goalie gave uis a chance to win the game," winger Joffrey Lupul said, and you want to bail him out at that point."

    Niittymaki was playing because Marty Biron is still suffering from the flu. Coach John Stevnes isn't sure who will start Sunday afternoon in New Jersey.

    In yesterday's win, the Old City Line _ Philly residents Scott Hartnell, Carter and Lupul _ combined for six goals and 12 points. They each had four points. Hartnell had his second hat trick in the last five games. (Fans threw hats on the ice after one of Hartnell's goals, mistakenly thinking it was Carter who had tipped in a shot and scored his first career hat trick. Later, Hartnell DID score a hat trick.)

   For whatever reason, ever since his infamous glove toss at a player going in on a breakaway, Hartnell has been one of the Flyers' top players.

  Center Glen Metropolit missed the game with a back injury, and Lasse Kukkonen took 10 shifts up front. Look for Randy Jones to play his first game with the Flyers this season in New Jersey today. Jones, who had a brief rehab stint with the AHL Phantoms, appears to have fully recovered from hip surgery.

   The best guess from here is that Andrew Alberts will be a healthy scratch today if Jones plays.

* * * * * * * * * *

   For a while, it looked like Niittymaki was going to set a Flyers record for most saves in a shutout. But his shutout was ruined with 14:51 left.

   Here is the list of Flyers shutouts with the most saves,courtesy of Joe Klueg of the Flyers' PR department:

   48 - Darren Jensen, Jan. 25, 1986 at STL (1-0)

   43 - Doug Favell - Oct. 16, 1971 at LA (1-0)

   41 - Roman Cechmanek - March 4, 2003 vs. VAN (3-0)

    40 - Doug Favell - Jan. 24, 1970 at MIN (6-0)

    - Marty Biron - Nov. 21, 2008 at BUF (3-0)

    It took 16 homes games, but the Flyers finally found a way to allow their fans to relax in the third period.

   They scored four power-play goals _ equaling their most since last March against the Islanders _ and coasted past the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-3, before a sellout crowd today at the Wachovia Center.

    Remarkably, every one of the Flyers' previous 15 homes games wasn't decided until the final minute. Or later.

    Fourteen of their home games were decided by one goal; the only game that wasn't decided by a goal was a 5-3 Montreal win, one that included an empty-netter.

   So, in esssense, this was the first home game not decided by one goal this season.

    Mike Knuble scored two power-play goals, while Kimmo Timonen added four assists _ all on the power play _ as the Flyers took sole possession of second place in the Atlantic Division. Theyalso  moved within two points of first place, pending the Rangers' result later tonight.

    The Flyers were 4 for 6 on the power play, while Pittsburgh was 1 for 4.

    "Special teams won this game," said Knuble, who ended an eight-game goal-less streak and now has 12 goals.

    Matt Carle, who had missed five games with a back/rib injury, returned to the lineup and contributed two pretty assists.

    Jeff Carter and Mike Richards also added a goal and two assists each.

    Am I the only one who thinks Richards is playing like a young Bobby Clarke? I'm not saying he's as good as Clarke, but he's getting there. He and Carter shut down Sidney Crosby (0 points) and Evgeni Malin (one assist) and helped the Flyers increase their record to a flashy 12-1-3 in their last 16 games. Crosby and Malkin were booed every time they touched the puck today.

    On Knuble's first goal, Richards used some clever stickhandling to keep the puck in the zone. Richards eventually shook free for a shot form the slot, and Knuble knocked in the rebound.

    "That's my job on the power play _ to hang around the net," Knuble said.

    The Flyers were sharp as they built a 2-0 first-period lead, carrying the momentum from Thursday's epic 6-5 shoot-out win over Carolina. In that game, the Flyers overcame a 5-1 third-period deficit _ their best late-game comeback in their 41-year history.

   * * * * * *

   In the third period, a fan wearing a Penguins jersey was escorted out of the building after he scuffled with a cameraman in the stands. The cameraman received a loud ovation.

* * * * * *

   The Flyers resume action Tuesday against visiting Colorado, a team that whipped Philadelphia, 5-2, on Oct. 16. After that game, the Flyers were 0-3-1 and the players held a team meeting that jump-started the season.

_ Sam Carchidi

    Less than two weeks ago, Scott Hartnell was known as the player who foolishly threw his glove at Tampa Bay's Ryan Malone as he skated in on a breakaway in the closing seconds.

   Tonight, he was known as the player who sparked the greatest late-game comeback in the Flyers' 41-year history.

   Hartnell's fourth career hat trick led the Flyers to a shocking 6-5 shoot-out win over the Carolina Hurricanes at the Wachovia Center.

   The Flyers faced a 5-1 deficit entering the third period, then got two goals from Hartnell and single tallies from Scottie Upshall and Simon Gagne. Gagne's goal, with 1:44 left in regulation, forced the OT.

   The Flyers dominated the scoreless OT, then won it in the shoot-out as Gagne and Mike Richards scored, while Antero Niittymaki stopped two shots.

    The Flyers had overcome a four-goal deficit and recorded a win in just one other game in their history. They erased a 5-1 deficit and beat the host Red Wings, 11-6, in a 1988 contest in which Murray Craven and Mark Howe scored two goals apiece. (Current assistant Craig "Chief" Berube was one of the Flyers' scorers that night, as was Dave Brown, who is now in the club's front office.)

   But the Flyers faced just a 6-4 deficit at the start of that 1988 game's third period, so tonight's stunner marked the best late-game comeback in history.

    Maybe it's two early, but it looks like something special is unfolding for the Flyers, who are 11-1-3 in their last 15 games.

    Forget the club's record. The thing that's most impressive thing about the Flyers right now is the way they have bought into coach John Stevens' system and how they refuse to quit in games.

   Down 5-1, most teams would have packed it in. Instead, the Flyers swarmed and played what Hartnell rightfully called "our best period of the year."

    Will they have enough in the tank when they host the Penguins in a delicious-looking matinee Saturday?

   Stay tuned.

    By the time the playoffs roll around, the Flyers should be pretty adept at playing in pressure-filled games.

    The reason?

    They seem to play a one-goal games every time they skate onto the Wachovia Center ice.

    If any game looked like it might be a breather on the schedule for the Flyers, it was tonight's matchup against the visiting Islanders.

    The Isles, after all, are one of the NHL's worst teams _ and they figured to be tired from playing the previous night.

    But the Islanders built a 2-0 lead and the Flyers had to huff and puff to pull out a 4-3 victory.

   Technically, 13 of the Flyers' 14 home games have been decided by one goal. But when you consider that Montreal scored an empty-netter in its 5-3 win earlier this year, the Flyers have actually been involved in one-goal decisions in all 14 home games.

    The fourth line _ center Darroll Powe and wingers Riley Cote and Arron Asham _ keyed tonight's win as they combined for half of the four goals. Powe scored the first goal of his NHL career, and Asham ripped home a shot after Cote checked Jon Sim and made a gorgeous set-up pass.

    I got some raised eyebrows from some colleagues (hello, Jim Jackson) for selecting Powe as the No. 1 star.

   Hey, it's not every day you score your first NHL goal, and Powe was plus-2 in a gritty 6:36 of action.

   I gave Cote the second star because he jump-started the team with his check and goal-creating pass, which helped the Flyers get to within 2-1 and energized the club.

    Yes, the Flyers have a knack of playing to the level of their competition. They go down-to-the-wire whether the opponent is a powerhouse (see San Jose) or a lightweight (see the Islanders). But they are now 10-1-3 in their last 14 games, so nobody should complain.

    * * * * * * *

   My odds on the Flyers signing free-agents Mats Sundin or Brendan Shanahan: 40-1.

* * * * * * * *

    Defenseman Kimmo Timonen was a plus-3 tonight.....The Isles had a 33-32 faceoff edge....Jeff Carter became the seventh-fastest player in Flyers history to reach 20 goals. He didn't score his 20th last year until Feb. 25 _ so he's 2 1/2 months ahead of last season's 29-goal pace......The Flyers are now tied with the Penguins for second place in the Atlantic Division, and the teams will square off in an intriguing 1 p.m. matinee Saturday at the Wachovia Center.

_ Sam Carchidi

     RALEIGH, N.C. _ Simon Gagne went through the morning skate, said his condition was improving and planned to play in Saturday night’s game against the host Carolina Hurricanes.
     The Flyers’ left winger missed the last half of Thursday’s 3-2 loss to New Jersey because of dehydration and fatigue.
     “It’s a lot better than yesterday and the day of the game (Thursday) and I’m good to go,” Gagne said after a light workout Saturday morning. “I’ve got a little bit more energy; it’s maybe not 100 percent, but I definitely have a lot more energy than two days ago. I’ll make sure I have some short shifts. I don’t know if I’ll play 21 minutes tonight. I might play a little bit less minutes, but I’ll be ready to go.”
     Flyers coach John Stevens said he would probably take Gagne off the penalty-killing unit tonight unless it was a critical situation. He expected Gagne to play about 18 minutes.
     Darroll Powe, a Princeton graduate who was recently promoted from the AHL Phantoms, will get some time with Mike Richards on the penalty-kill, the coach said.
    Defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who missed the last few minutes of Thursday’s game, will also play tonight.    Defenseman Matt Carle, suffering from back spasms, did not make the trip. “He’s still tight and continuing his rehab, and we’ll see where it goes next week when we get back at practice,” Stevens said.
    Goalie Antero Niittymaki will make tonight’s start. 

- Sam Carchidi

   The Flyers said yesterday that high-scoing center Danny Briere will miss four or five weeks because of a "significant" groin strain.

   They also said the injury had nothing to do with rushing him back to action.

   Maybe. But something sure looks fishy.

  Earlier this season, Briere had abdominal surgery and missed six games. He then returned to the lineup much quicker than expected, played two games and suffered a groin strain. Originally, the club said the groin injury was not related to the abdominal problem.

   Yesterday, Briere said doctors told him the injuries WERE related.

   I'm not a doctor, but I can connect the dots. When you connect them, it screams that the Flyers brought Briere back too soon.

   After the initial groin-strain injury, Briere missed nine games, then returned and played briefly Tuesday in a 4-3 OT win against Tampa Bay. He lasted less than half the game before re-aggravating the injury.

   Briere said doctors told him that, even if he didn't return to the lineup Tuesday and sat out another week or two, the injury could have resurfaced.

   Maybe. But it says here the Flyers need to start taking a more cautious approach before a player returns from an injury.

   In addition to Briere, defenseman Ossi Vaananen was re-injured in the early stages after his return. Earlier this season, Vaananen missed three games with a broken finger. In his first game back, he tore the stitches in his finger and had to sit out four more games.

    The latest injury to Briere opens cap space and will enable the Flyers to activate defenseman Randy Jones, who is recovering from hip surgery. Jones may be ready in mid-December. The defense is playing well, however, and they would be wise not to rush him back.

   In the meanwhile, with Briere out until sometime in January, one wonders if the Flyers will make inquiries again about free-agent Bendan Shanahan. The guess here is that they will ride out Briere's absence by using one of three hard-working, impressive players who have spent most of the year with the AHL Phantoms: Darroll Powe, Jared Ross or Jon Kalinski.

   Down the road, when Jones and Ryan Parent both return from injuries, they will have to make a decision on whether to keep 18-year-old Luca Sbisa or send him to juniors.

   Nobody asked me, but.....Sbisa needs to stay. He has become a valuable defenseman (and power-play contributor) and is playing beyond his years. Sending him down will only stunt his development.

* * * * * * *

   In case you missed it, Phil Sheridan wrote a terrific column on Scott Hartnell's glove-throwing escapade in Tuesday's bizarre 4-3 overtime win over Tampa Bay.

* * * * * * *

   Jones had hoped to be ready for Saturday, but is now aiming for mid-December.

   “There were some more issues with the hip and it’s not 100 percent,” he said after yesterday’s practice. “It has to be 100 percent for at least a week or two for me to come back. It’s just starting to turn around a little bit.”

    Jones estimated the hip was 80 percent healthy; he may be able to return Dec. 16 against Colorado .

  * * * * * 

   Marty Biron (2.95 goals-against average) will be in goal tonight for the Flyers. Scott Clemmensen (2.55 GAA) and Kevin Weekes (2.87) have filled in for New Jersey because future Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur (2.16), whom the Flyers defeated twice this season, is sidelined for at least a couple more months with an elbow injury….In the fans’ vote, the Canadiens are leading for all six starting spots for the Jan. 25 all-star game in Montreal. Flyers center Jeff Carter, who has 18 goals and is tied for the NHL goal-scoring lead with Buffalo ’s Thomas Vanek, isn’t on the all-star ballot and the organization is starting a vote-in campaign. Fans can vote at www.nhl.com….The NHL has put Scottie Upshall on notice for his major boarding penalty on Tuesday….A little over 900 tickets remain for tonight’s game.

_ Sam Carchidi

   When they play host to Rick Tocchet-coached Tampa Bay Tuesday, the Flyers could have their top 12 forwards together for the first time since early November.

   Danny Briere, who has missed the last nine games with a groin injury, says he is "probable" to return to the lineup, and left wing Riley Cote is expected to return from a torn oblique, an injury that sidelined him for 12 games.

   Cote, the club's enforcer, and former Flyer Steve Downie could be on the ice together, making for some intriguing possibilities.

    When Downie played with the Flyers, he became friends with Cote. They even took a mixed martial-arts class together and still phone one another.

    For 60 minutes Tuesday, however, they won’t be discussing the good times when Downie and the Lighting face the Flyers at the Wachovia Center.

   Downie was recently recalled by the Lighting from the AHL, where he had been suspended for three games because of a dangerous hit.

    Downie, traded to Tampa with Steve Eminger in the Nov. 7 deal that brought Matt Carle to the Flyers, has a history of being suspended, whether it was in juniors, the NHL or the AHL.

    Cote was asked about facing Downie.

    “If he’s acting up, you deal with it,” he said after today's practice in Voorhees. “For the most part, just let him know you’re out there and keep him honest. If something needs to be done, it’s done. But I don’t think we’re going to go into the game worrying about it. He’ll play his game and we’re going to play our game.”

      Cote says he watches replays of “every NHL fight” in the morning.

     “It’s my job on the team _ to stick up for my teammates, and turn games around with momentum.” he said.

    With Cote ’s return, Josh Gratton is expected to be sent to the AHL Phantoms.

    “Grats has done a great job; he stepped in and did what he does best,” Cote said. “He’s a physical player and he had some good fights.”

    Cote said he wouldn’t intentionally instigate a fight Tuesday.

   “I’m just going to get back to my game, which is playing physical. I’m going to try to get the puck in the corner and create a big hit,” he said. “If a fight comes, it comes.  I definitely would like to get one out of the way just to get back in the swing of things, but I’m not going to go out of my way and put myself before the team, by any means.”

    As for Downie, Cote said he respects his former teammate.

    “Downs plays with a chip on his shoulder, no question, and that’s a great thing,” Cote said. “He goes out and plays hard. And I don’t think any of us spend any time worrying about what he’s going to do….If he wants to prove a point, we’ll prove a point back.”

    * * * * * *

    Briere  is cautiously optimistic that he’ll return to the lineup Tuesday.

    “It’s looking better and better,” Briere said. “I don’t want to say for sure….I got excited like that the past few games, and the next day when I showed up at the rink it wasn’t feeling good. It was feeling pretty good today and I’m probable, I guess.”

    If Briere does play, he won't return on the top line with Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble. Those wingers are doing well with Mike Richards, and coach John Stevens doesn’t want to break up the high-scoring line.

     If Briere plays, he would probably center Joffrey Lupul and Andreas Nodl, said Stevens, adding that Jeff Carter would center Scott Hartnell and Scottie Upshall.

    _ Sam Carchidi