Flyers rebound with win over Buffalo

Less than 24 hours after their coach gave them a tongue-lashing in the media, the Flyers responded Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

For one night, at least, they showed the intensity - and their trademark hell-bent forecheck - that had been missing in some games.

For one night, their power play came to life and they got production from more than one line.

For one night, they mostly resembled the team that clawed its way to the Stanley Cup Finals last season.

Flyers 6, Buffalo 3.

In one of their best all-around performances of the season, the Flyers committed a season-low four penalties and rebounded from a listless 2-1 defeat in Columbus the previous night.

"I think it'll help everybody relax, and hopefully get some guys going offensively," center Danny Briere said.

Briere, Nik Zherdev, Darroll Powe, Claude Giroux, Jeff Carter, and Andreas Nodl (empty-netter) scored for the Flyers, and goalie Sergei "Bob" Bobrovsky improved to 3-2.

The Flyers scored three power-play goals - as many as they had in their first eight games - in five attempts. They were 3 for 35 on the power play before Tuesday.

Buffalo trimmed a 5-1 lead to 5-3 on two third-period goals.

"We were a little frustrated in Columbus and we weren't having fun," Giroux said. "Tonight we were disciplined and playing hard - and having fun doing it."

Trailing 1-0, the Flyers seemed to get focused after 39-year-old Sean O'Donnell decisioned the Sabres' Cody McCormick in a fight, which came 21 seconds after Thomas Vanek's goal.

The momentum "switched right around then," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said. "We were a little sluggish and, to me, that seemed to be the turning point. It brought a little energy to the building, a little energy to the bench, and from there we were able to play better hockey."

After the bout, the Flyers scored the next five goals.

In the season's first few weeks, the Flyers' offense has pretty much consisted of Briere and linemates Ville Leino and Scott Hartnell.

Briere, 33, scored his sixth goal in nine games to tie the score at 1 with 4 minutes, 45 seconds left in the opening period. It was just the Flyers' fourth power-play goal, three of which were scored by Briere.

Lurking beyond the goal line, Briere took a pass from Carter and scored from the left side against his former team, putting his own rebound past Ryan Miller on the short side.

It was the second time Briere generated a scoring chance from near the goal line.

"I had so much time. So I told [Carter], 'Next time, let's try it again,' " said Briere, who downplayed the significance of a "little tense" team meeting earlier in the day. "They were letting me walk in. The first time, I hit Chris Pronger in the slot, but his stick broke. The second time, I tried to take it to the net."

Briere is having his best October since he scored nine goals in the month in 2005. He finished that season with 25 goals in 48 games with Buffalo.

"I still have some good friends on the other side, but you try to leave that off the ice," Briere said.

With his offense sputtering, Laviolette again juggled his lines, flip-flopping Carter and Mike Richards. Carter was with Giroux and Powe, while Richards was with James van Riemsdyk and Zherdev.

"We're still trying to find the right chemistry," Laviolette said.

The Flyers took the lead for good when Zherdev scored his second goal of the season, beating Miller from the slot. Miller came out of the net and Briere was behind him - Buffalo argued he was in the crease - but the center apparently was pushed into the area by a Buffalo player.