Struggling Flyers work to straighten lines

THREE WEEKS ago, today's game against the Chicago Blackhawks was circled on the Flyers' calendar. Chicago was supposed to provide a true Stanley Cup contender's measuring stick for the Flyers - who were one of the hottest teams in the NHL, thanks to a four-game winning streak prior to the Olympic break.

Both teams enter today's game with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games, but couldn't be going in more different directions.

Chicago is enjoying an eight-point cushion in second place in the Western Conference and the Flyers are just two points away from sliding to the eighth and final playoff spot, thanks to a 3-2-1 record since the break ended.

And rather than being able to use today's game as a size-up, the Flyers could only talk yesterday about improving their own game over the remaining 16 contests. Coach Peter Laviolette called his defense "porous" over the last week and has questioned his team's drive and urgency.

"I think that it's exciting that one of the top teams in the West is coming in here," Laviolette said. "But I'm always concerned about our game, not the opponent. Whether it's someone who's not going to make the playoffs in the East or one of the top teams in the West, for me, it's about our game and how we play it."

Defenseman Kimmo Timonen, perhaps the Flyers' most even-keeled and objective eye on the team pulse, was quick to say the same thing. He knows the three wins since the break are deceiving. They didn't look impressive in two of them and the only playoff team the Flyers have faced is Boston. Thursday's 5-1 pounding by the Bruins said a lot.

"Everyone knows that we haven't played our best hockey since the Olympic break," Timonen said. "They're a top team in the league. Obviously it's a good measurement for us. But I'm more worried about our game than them. We have to get back to basics and play our hockey. We haven't been able to do that in the last five or six games."

In an effort to get back to that, Laviolette decided to mix up his lines for yesterday's 30-minute skate. Even with 16 games this month, the Flyers have skated each off-day this week.

Laviolette put Ville Leino, who has been scratched in three straight games, on a line with Jeff Carter and James van Riemsdyk. Danny Briere remained on the left wing but skated with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell, who was benched for almost half of Thursday's third period.

Simon Gagne moved to Mike Richards' line with Dan Carcillo.

Darroll Powe's unit, with Blair Betts and Ian Laperriere, was the only one to remain intact.

"I'm not sure where I'm going with the lineup," Laviolette said. "I put some lines together [yesterday] just to take a look at some things. We need to play better. So we're trying a different look. Some lines, I'm happy with. Others, not so much.

"I was happy with the way we were playing before the [Olympic] break. But since we've come back, the game has been inconsistent. That's really unacceptable at this time of year. This is the time of year we should be tuning our game as we prepare [for the playoffs]."

Briere said making lineup changes - and having guys who don't play well sit out - makes everyone accountable for his play.

Since Laviolette said Leino would be back in the lineup, one player must sit. Laviolette wouldn't say who he has decided to sit, but Arron Asham was the odd man out of the lines yesterday and Asham admitted that he wouldn't play today.

Hartnell, who is a candidate to be scratched, hasn't scored in 13 games. But Hartnell, unlike Asham, does have 25 points in 34 career games against Chicago.

One change that Laviolette won't make is in goal. Michael Leighton will be back in net today against Chicago, one of his five former teams, despite being yanked from two of his last five starts.

Much like their opponent, as the Flyers said, their outcome today relies little on Leighton in net - and a whole lot more in front of him.

Dan Carcillo was not suspended by the NHL yesterday for shoving linesman Greg Devorski after an altercation on Thursday night against Boston. Carcillo was given a 10-minute misconduct . . . This afternoon's game against Chicago is sold out . . . Today is James van Riemsdyk's first pro matchup with former national team teammate and Blackhawks leading scorer Patrick Kane . . . No starter in goal has been named for tomorrow's game against the Rangers.

For more news and analysis, read Frank Seravalli's blog, Frequent Flyers, at http://go.philly.com/frequentflyers.