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Flyers Notes: Flyers see opportunity in struggling East

Despite an awful start to the season, the Flyers entered Tuesday's game against visiting Anaheim just five points out of a playoff spot - and with two games in hand on Carolina, the team holding that position.

Flyers forwards Brayden Schenn (left), Jakub Voracek (center) and Scott Hartnell (right). (Kathy Kmonicek/AP)
Flyers forwards Brayden Schenn (left), Jakub Voracek (center) and Scott Hartnell (right). (Kathy Kmonicek/AP)Read more

Despite an awful start to the season, the Flyers entered Tuesday's game against visiting Anaheim just five points out of a playoff spot - and with two games in hand on Carolina, the team holding that position.

"Our division has been struggling at the start of the year," center Sean Couturier said after Tuesday's morning skate at the Wells Fargo Center. "We're lucky we're in that situation and we have to take advantage of it."

"Teams are going to start winning pretty soon. Teams are going to get hot, and hopefully we're one of those teams," said captain Claude Giroux, who was coming off a two-assist performance in a 5-2 win over the Islanders but was still searching for his first goal.

The Flyers began the night with a 3-7 record and two straight wins.

"Nobody has really taken off in the East. It's been pretty tight, and we definitely feel fortunate," coach Craig Berube said. "We just have to worry about winning our games and doing what we have to do."

Mez in lineup

Defenseman Andrej Meszaros, a healthy scratch the previous five games, was started with Kimmo Timonen and was later paired with Mark Streit.

Maroon returns

Left winger Patrick Maroon (two goals, two assists), chosen by the Flyers in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, was on Anaheim's top line Tuesday with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. Maroon played for the Philadelphia/Adirondack Phantoms before being dealt with David Laliberte for Danny Syvret and Rob Bordson in 2010. He was on the top line because of injuries.

Sbisa sidelined

Anaheim defenseman Luca Sbisa, a former Flyer, has not played this year because of a sprained left ankle, but said he was "getting close" to returning.

Sbisa, 23, said even though only four Flyers remain from when he played here in 2008-09, he got sentimental walking into the Wells Fargo Center. "This is where it all started for me," he said.

Sbisa was 18 when he started his rookie season with the Flyers. He was later one of the players sent to Anaheim in the Chris Pronger trade.

Flyers carnival

As part of the 37th Flyers Wives Carnival on Jan. 26 at the Wells Fargo Center, many players from the 1974 and 1975 Stanley Cup champs will be at the event signing autographs. For ticket information, go to FlyersCarnival.com.