Flyers feature Powe factor against Maple Leafs

Watching his teammates battle in Buffalo on Friday night while he sat out with a bruised foot, Darroll Powe witnessed newcomer Ville Leino make his mark on the Flyers' first line with Jeff Carter and Danny Briere.

There was little he could do.

Powe, who had been firmly entrenched in the lineup all season, was the excuse Leino needed to get into the lineup.

Leino's line combined for 12 shots and was easily the Flyers' most potent attack against a struggling Buffalo defense.

Seemingly, Powe's spot in the lineup was in jeopardy for the first time since last season. The Princeton graduate (sociology degree) wasn't even a question mark in training camp.

And he isn't a question mark for coach Peter Laviolette. Healthy again for the first time last night, Powe was back in the lineup against Toronto and Leino was back in the press box for the seventh time in nine games.

Laviolette reasoned that Leino - not an overly physical player - wouldn't bring the toughness that Powe would against a gritty Toronto team.

"I just thought it was important to make sure we have a lineup that has enough sandpaper tonight,'' Laviolette said.

Powe said he was feeling the pressure, knowing that Leino had played well.

"It's great to know that they're comfortable to put you in,'' Powe said. "Ville is a good player. He played well, definitely. It's always a battle to get in the lineup.''

Powe has eight goals and five assists but is second on the team in hits with 124 this season. After last night's 3-1 victory, in which Powe played 8 minutes and 20 seconds, the Flyers are an astounding 32-12-2 with Powe in the lineup compared to just 2-14-2 without him.

Still, that doesn't mean Leino is out of the picture.

"I thought Ville did a good job [in Buffalo],'' Laviolette said. "He did a good job on that line, and made a lot of things happen offensively.''

Defenseman Oskars Bartulis wasn't as lucky as Powe. Finally healthy after returning from the Olympics in Vancouver with a groin strain, Bartulis wasn't reinserted into the lineup. The Flyers opted instead to keep Ryan Parent and Lukas Krajicek.

In fact, Bartulis wasn't even on the active roster for last night's game.

General manager Paul Holmgren said Bartulis would likely be activated from the injured reserve today. Laviolette doesn't know when Bartulis will be back in the lineup.

"It's hard for me to answer that,'' Laviolette said. "I'm sure he wants to get back in there. I don't have a plan. Every day, things change here with injuries and the way guys are playing. I know he wants to get back in there and play, but right now there's no spot for him.''

Bartulis had played in 46 straight games since his surprising November call-up before his injury in Vancouver.

Besides Ray Emery, the Flyers are almost completely healthy for the first time since September. With 18 games remaining, there still will be competition for the final roster spots as the Flyers chase a playoff spot.

"From here on out, it's good because it pushes guys to stay in the lineup,'' Powe said. "That's something you need, some internal pressure, because it forces you to keep on your toes and play hard every night.''

Chris Pronger's Olympic gold medal and Kimmo Timonen's bronze were on display last night in the Broad Street Atrium at the Wachovia Center, along with their game-worn jerseys. Trying to avoid a Sidney Crosby-like disappearance, Mike Richards' parents took his jersey and medal back to Kenora, Ontario. Crosby's glove and stick mysteriously disappeared from Hockey Canada Place after he scored the gold medal-winning goal for Canada. A $10,000 reward is being offered for their return . . . Extra defenseman Joey Mormina, who was recalled by the Flyers last week under emergency conditions, has been sent back to AHL Adirondack.