Forget for a moment that the Flyers scored one fewer goal in the shootout. In a couple weeks, the shootout goes away (but not until it has distorted teams' point totals and playoff seedings in both conferences).

For me, the real takeway is the heart and urgency the Flyers showed in coming back from a two-goal deficit and, after falling behind again, scoring in the last minute of regulation to force OT. That's a better reflection of what it takes to win in the playoffs, not the outcome of a shootout.

There were a couple funky goals scored tonight (especially the first Devils goal and Randy Jones' goal that tied the game at 3-3). There were a couple skill goals scored tonight, too, especially Vaclav Prospal's wicked wristshot to open the scoring, the Brian Gionta goal on the line-rush and Mike Richards' unbelievable pass to Mike Knuble in the final minute of regulation. Both clubs capitalized on momentary coverage mistakes by the other squad. Meanwhile, Martin Brodeur came up with several tremendous saves in close, especially ones on Joffrey Lupul and Daniel Briere.

In short, it had the feel of a playoff game. The shootout result needn't stall the Flyers' momentum, as long as they go out and take care of business tomorrow on Long Island.

One point of concern: The Flyers' recent inability to convert on the powerplay (except against the Islanders) continued tonight. That's something they are going to need to bear down on over the remainder of the season.

Even though the Flyers only came away one point tonight, they jumped back over Boston by a point and moved to within two points of the Rangers for the sixth seed. Both the Bruins and Rangers have a game in hand.

As for the shootout, I have no idea why it is that Martin Biron often seems utterly incapable of stopping a shot, and it doesn't matter whether it's high glove, a shot through the five-hole, a quick lateral move or even if the shooter comes in with speed or moves in deliberately. With tonight's 0-for-3 performance, he's now got a 35% save percentage (7 for 20) in shootouts, including shots that have missed the net or hit the post. For those who want Antero Niittymäki to be put in for shootouts, be aware that he hasn't done too much better in his career, although he hasn't been in a shootout this season.




Notes:

* John Stevens broke up the Braydon Coburn-Kimmo Timonen pairing during the game, putting Timonen with Randy Jones and Coburn with Lasse Kukkonen on many shifts. It was a solid night for the most part for both Jones and Kukkonen, both when they started out the game together and after they were moved to other pairings.

Jones, in fact, had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick tonight. The most recent Flyer to do it was Mike Richards against Buffalo on Dec. 22.

* Jason Smith had an even-strength assist tonight on the Flyers' first goal without getting a plus on the play. That's because, after he outleted the pass up ice to Daniel Briere, the Flyers changed defense pairings as the play moved up the ice. Kukkonen and Jones replaced Smith and Modry just in time to get a freebie of a plus-one for the pair.

* I thought Riley Cote was terrific tonight on the boards and in the physical department. He did outstanding work on the forecheck. Ditto Patrick Thoresen.

* Speaking of Thoresen, they ran a graphic on the Flyers broadcast tonight that he has played in five Olympics, including the 1994 games in his native Norway. Actually, it is his father, Petter, who played in five Olympics for Norway.

I have no idea how that mistake slipped through, because 1) Patrick was only 10 years old at the time of the 1994 Olympics 2) to have played in five Olympics, Patrick would've had to have played in his first one (1992 in Albertville) at the age of 8, and 3) Norway hasn't even qualified for the last three Olympics.

* New Jersey defenseman Johnny Oduya now has three goals and nine points in the season series against the Flyers. However, he lost Mike Knuble on the goal that tied the game in the final minute of regulation.

**********

With the Flyers (39-28-10, 88 points) idle the last two nights and the Rangers, Capitals and Bruins all winning in the meantime, Philadelphia has dropped back to the eighth seed (two points ahead of Washington) heading into tonight's game in New Jersey against the slumping Devils (42-28-7, 91 points).

Nevertheless, the Flyers can find a way to beat the Devils in New Jersey for the first time since March 2004, they will be in good position to push for the sixth seed or higher over the remainder of the season. In this year's season series, after blanking the Devils 4-0 on October 18, Philly has been outscored by New Jersey by a 24-8 margin in the five games the clubs have played since. The season series concludes in Philadelphia in April 4. (See below for a look at every Flyers season series against the Devils since 1995-96).

There is reason for Flyers fans to feel hopeful heading into this tilt. The Devils are 0-4-1 in their last five games and 1-3-1 in their last five games at home. Since March 19, the Devils have scored just five goals. Last night's 3-2 loss at MSG marked the first time New Jersey scored more than a single goal in that stretch of games.

To win, the Flyers will not only have to find a way to solve Martin Brodeur. They're going to have to find a way to shut down several players who have feasted off them.

Start with Patrik Elias. Although he has slumped to 19 goals this season (including one last night), Elias has four goals against the Flyers in the six games this season. For his career, he has 21 goals and 51 points in 53 games against Philly. He's also a plus-18.

Zach Parise has been slumping offensively as of late, but he has three goals and six points in the season series with the Flyers this year and 10 goals and 19 points in 21 career games against Philly. Meanwhile, Brian Gionta has 23 points in 29 games against Philly.

Over the years, the Flyers have also been hurt numerous times by shorthanded goals scored by New Jersey. It's absolutely critical that the Flyers avoid turning over the puck up high in the zone and, when powerplay expire, watch out for the man coming out of the box.

Martin Biron has struggled against New Jersey during his career, both with the Flyers and with Buffalo (4-11-2, 3.22 goals against average). In the season series this year, he's given up three goals that could fairly be described as soft ones, including an unscreened shot from just over the blueline in the 7-3 loss on Jan. 22. Tonight, he's going to have to crank up the type of game he produced against the Rangers earlier this week.

Beyond that, Philly needs to get the Jeff Carter line going again offensively, as New Jersey will be keying on the Briere and Richards lines tonight.


Flyers lines and scratches (subject to change)

Prospal - Briere - Hartnell
Thoresen - Richards - Lupul
Upshall - Carter - Knuble
Cote - Dowd - Kapanen

Coburn - Timonen
Smith - Jones
Kukkonen - Modry

Biron
[Niittymäki]

Scratches:
Downie (healthy)
Tolpeko (healthy)
Parent (healthy)
Umberger (knee sprain)
Hatcher (fractured tibia)
Gagne (LTIR, concussion)
Rathje (LTIR, back)

************

Here's a look at the Flyers season series history against New Jersey dating back from last season to 1995-96 (the season after the Devils beat the Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals and seemingly got into the Flyers' heads for years to come):

2006-07. The Flyers won twice against the Devils last season, lost four times in regulation, once in overtime and twice in a shootout. In the eight games, the Flyers blew leads in five of the losses, including four games where the Flyers scored first. Three times the Flyers held leads in the final two-plus minutes of regulation, including two games in which the Flyers gave up a tying goal in the final minute of play.

In one of the victories (a 5-4 overtime win), the Flyers and Devils engaged in a seesaw affair, with Philly trailing 1-0 in the first, leading 4-3 after the second and getting scored in midway through the third period to force overtime.

2005-06. The Flyers won three times, lost four times in regulation and lost once in a shootout. Philly scored first in only three of the eight games. There were no lead changes in any of the eight games.

2003-04. The Flyers won three games, lost two in regulation and tied one. The Flyers blew a 2-0 lead in the second period in one of the losses. But they also came back from a 2-0 deficit midway through the game in the tilt that ended in a tie.

2002-03. The Flyers won one game, lost two in regulation, tied one and lost one in overtimie. Almost every game was a low-scoring duel between Roman Cechmanek and Martin Brodeur, with the exception of a 5-1 blowout loss. The overtime loss was a 1-0 final and the Flyers also lost 1-0 in regulation (Jamie Langenbrunner scored midway through the third period). The Flyers scored first and held the lead throughout in their lone win (4-2).

2001-02. The Flyers won three times, lost once in regulation and tied one game. In all three wins (3-1, 3-2 and 1-0), the Flyers scored first and never gave back more than a one goal lead. In the tie (3-3), the Flyers trailed 1-0 after the first period, briefly grabbed a 3-1 lead in the second and led 3-2 after the middle stanza. The Devils scored a shorthanded goal late in regulation to tie the game.

2000-01. The Flyers won one game, lost twice in regulation and tied two games against the Devils. Philly scored first in two of the games, losing both (including a game that was tied 2-2 in the final minute before John Madden scored the game-winner). On the flip side, Paul Ranheim scored at 18:34 of the third period in a 1-1 tie. The Flyers won a 6-3 decision in which they trailed early, built a 3-1 lead, blew it, and came on strong in the third period.

1999-2000. The Flyers won one game and lost four in regulation. The team that scored first won every game. However, three of the games were see-saw affairs and the Flyers trailed 3-2 in the third period of their lone win (after leading 2-1 through 40 minutes).

1998-99. The Flyers won once, lost one in regulation, lost a pair in overtime and tied one game with the Devils. The lone victory ended as a 6-1 blowout but was tied 1-1 after the second period (Philly scored first). The Flyers scored first in two other games, losing 3-2 and tying 5-5 in a game the Flyers led 2-0 and later trailed 5-3 midway through the third period. In one of the overtime losses (5-4), the Flyers blew a 4-1 lead but didn't score first. The other OT loss (3-2) saw the Flyer rally back from a 2-0 deficit.

1997-98: The Flyers went winless in the season series, losing four times in regulation and tying once. The Flyers only scored first in one game (a 4-1 loss) but came back from a pair of deficits in the tie game, including Alexandre Daigle's game-tying goal at 14:56 of the third period.

1996-97: The Flyers won three times and lost twice in regulation. The Flyers only scored first in one game, in which they led 1-0 after the first period but gave up three goals in the middle period to lose, 3-1. But they blew a pair of leads in a 4-2 loss.

In one of the most memorable regular-season game of that era, the Flyers trailed the Devils (by a 4-1 score after the second period, but scored four unanswered goals in the final period to win, 5-4. It should be noted, however, that Martin Brodeur wasn't in goal for the Devils. Mike Dunham was the victim.

1995-96: The Flyers won two, lost two in regulation and lost another pair in overtime. Philly scored first in four of the six games, winning two and losing two in OT. The Flyers blew multiple-goal leads in both of the overtime losses, including one game in which they held the Devils to two shots in the third period but gave up a goal in the final minute of regulation.

PROGRAM NOTE: CN8 11:30PM this Saturday.
This Saturday we repeat the FlyersBuzz TV episode featuring Bill Clement and Scott Hartnell in "Bill's Buzz Breakdown." Riley Cote drives with Eklund and takes on Julie Robenhymer in Wii boxing. Fans ask Keith Jones "anything and everything" during Jonsey's Flyerside Chat.

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