Slow-starting Flyers seek answers as playoffs near

In the last five weeks, the Flyers have sputtered for a variety of reasons.

Perhaps foremost: They have led after the first period in just four of their last 19 games, compiling a 9-8-2 record in that span.

Tonight, when they face the desperate Florida Panthers at the Wachovia Center, the Flyers will be trying to get out of their first-period doldrums.

"A lot of times we've had to battle back," winger Simon Gagne said after yesterday's practice at the Wachovia Center. "Our best period has been the third period. . . . But we have to find a way before the playoffs start to make sure when the puck is dropped, we're ready."

Defenseman Andrew Alberts said the Flyers "need to get back to basics. I think we're at our best when we're dumping the puck in and taking the body and playing physical. So if we can do that in the first five minutes, we'll set a different tone for the game and, hopefully, get on the scoreboard sooner."

The Flyers are tied with Carolina for the No. 4 spot in the crowded Eastern Conference race. The Flyers have four regular season games left; the Hurricanes three.

Center Mike Richards said the last four games are "practice for the playoffs," and the team is "trying to get the ball rolling before we get in there."

Florida and the Rangers are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot. Both have three games left.

The Panthers "are playing for their playoff lives and obviously it's a must-win for them," Richards said, "so we have to be ready and come out as strong, if not better than them, and try to do the right things and play a patient game."

After a one-game absence, Marty Biron will return to the nets for the Flyers.

"I want to get Marty back to the level he was playing at before," coach John Stevens said. "He played great for about three weeks, and then he's kind of taken a step back, and it looks like his confidence is waning a little bit. I think it's starting to come again; he had a good practice today. When he's confident, he's aggressive and pucks stick to him. He can turn it on. You don't want to say there's a switch there, but for some reason, he can turn it on, and we need him to turn it on now."

Unlike last year, when they used a 7-1-1 end-of-season run to qualify for the playoffs, the Flyers are in control of their destiny. They need one point to secure a playoff spot, and they can wrap up the No. 4 seed - and home-ice advantage in the first round - if they go 3-0-1 the rest of the way.

"If you look at the body of work from the course of the season, we've put ourselves in a position where we don't have to scoreboard-watch," Stevens said. "All we have to do is take care of ourselves."

Especially in the first period.