Briere sidelined for Flyers

PITTSBURGH - Danny Briere will miss Sunday night's game in Pittsburgh because of an upper-body injury suffered during Saturday's practice, GM Paul Holmgren announced.

The Penguins, who are aiming for their 12th straight win, will be without injured stars Evgeni Malkin and Chris Letang.

In each of the last two seasons, the Flyers have ended long Penguins winning streaks by scoring 3-2 victories. In both instances, Scott Hartnell scored the winning goal.

Hartnell ended the Penguins' 12-game win streak on Dec. 14, 2010; he also snapped their 11-gamer with a goal with 0.9 seconds left in overtime on March 18, 2012.

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The Flyers are fortunate that they remain five points out of the eighth playoff spot despite not playing since Monday.

"We could be a lot worse than we are now," winger Simon Gagne said.

The last time the Flyers were in Pittsburgh, they outlasted the Penguins, 6-5, last month.

"They seem to bring out the best in us," winger Wayne Simmonds said.

Harry Zolnierczyk or Mike Knuble will replace Briere, who is goal-less in his last 13 games.

Ilya Bryzgalov (13-13-1, 2.79, .898) wll oppose the Penguins' Marc-Andre Fleury (16-5, 2.38, .912). Pittsburgh has allowed a total of eight goals in its last seven games.

Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter@BroadStBull.