The Flyers (3-1-0) will look to get back on the winning track tonight when they take on the Anaheim Ducks (1-1-1) at the Wachovia Center. The game carries particular intrigue because it will mark Chris Pronger's first game against his old club, while Joffrey Lupul and Luca Sbisa should have a lot of motivation to suit up against the Flyers. The Ducks also feature local product Bobby Ryan and ex-Flyer Steve Eminger.

On the heels of giving up 10 goals in the last two games (albeit to two of the NHL's most explosive offensive clubs), Philadelphia will be looking to improve its defensive effort. In particular, the defense pairing of Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn has struggled over much of the last two games. The third pairing of Ryan Parent and either Danny Syvret (games 1-3) or Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (Thursday) has looked shaky since the outset.

Offensively, the club has done fine. Two players who are off to slow starts in the offensive zone are Simon Gagne and Claude Giroux. There may be some line juggling tonight (based on the team's last practice) in order to get the two French-Canadians going, while getting Mika Pyorala onto a checking line. James Van Riemsdyk remains out of the lineup with what the club still refuses to call a concussion, even though he was woozy going off the ice in the game on Tuesday and hasn't felt quite 100% since.

Special teams have been the Flyers' biggest asset so far this season. The club has killed penalties at a 87% clip (20-for-23) while connecting on 29.2% (7-for-24) of its power plays.

LINEUP (Subject to change)

Hartnell - Carter - Briere
Gagne - Richards - Giroux
Powe/Pyorala - Pyorala/Powe - Asham/Laperierre
Cote - Laperierre- Carcillo

Pronger - Carle
Timonen - Coburn
Parent - Syvret/Tollefsen

Emery
[Boucher]

*****

Former Flyer Rod Brind'Amour scored his first goal of the season last night for the Carolina Hurricanes. Today's Daily Drop at Versus.com takes a look at the longtime Philadelphia fan favorite.

*****

You can order Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask online at Barnes & Noble, via Amazon or through Middle Atlantic Press.

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