PITTSBURGH _ The Flyers are still alive.

   For that, they can thank Marty Biron (28 saves) and a surprising cast of characters.

  Some of the other main contributors in tonight's 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins were Arron Asham (game-winning goal), a revived Dan Carcillo (plus-2), Matt Carle (two asssists, four blocked shots), Darroll Powe (key assist) and the irrepressible Claude Giroux (goal).

   What do those five players have in common?

   None were with the Flyers last year.

   It was a gritty, determined effort by the Flyers, who also got a goal from veteran Mike Knuble and six hits from Braydon Coburn.

    The Penguins still lead the series, three games to two.

    Only 8 percent of NHL teams have overcome a three-games-to-one deficit and advanced to the next round.

   In Flyers history, the odds are even worse. The Flyers have never won any of the 13 series in which they fell into a 3-1 hole.

    That said, the Flyers have been the better team since the second period of Game 2.

    They lost Game 2 in overtime _ a late, questionable penalty on Jeff Carter gave Pittsburgh a power play and they tied it with less than four minutes left _ and they lost Game 4 when Marc-Andre Fleury made 45 saves and looked like the scond coming of Bernie Parent.

    Put it all together and you have reason for optimism.

    The Penguins also are upbeat.

    "We knew they would come out and play a great game tonight and they did," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "They pushed it to a Game 6 and it's back to their building. We have the knowledge that we've won in that building the last time we were there."

   But can Fleury repeat his Game 4 heroics?

   Stay tuned. This series is getting more and more interesting.