PREVIEW (8:35 AM)

In dire need of a win, the goal-starved Flyers return home to the Wachovia Center tonight to take on the Minnesota Wild. Philly lost in Minnesota, 2-1, on Feb. 6. Tonight's game marks just the 11th meeting between the clubs in the decade since the NHL added the Wild as an expansion franchise. The Flyers have won six of the previous 10 games.

For all the talk about how the officials "cost" the Flyers the game in Ottawa the other night, my perspective is that the Flyers deserved to lose the game anyway. There were long stretches where the Flyers generated almost no pressure on the Ottawa net, and any time a team puts itself in a position to try to come back in the third period, it's tough to win. These Flyers are a poor comeback team, anyway. Philly is 2-22-1 when trailing after the second period and 7-23-0 when the opponent scores first. In other words, by heading into the third period trailing the Sens -- even 1-0 -- the Flyers were following their usual script in games they lose in regulation.

In the absence of Jeff Carter, Peter Laviolette has been juggling several of his line combos. Right now, the Flyers need someone -- preferably several someones -- to step up and lead the way before the club finds itself on the outside of the playoffs looking in.

STARTING LINEUP (subject to change)

Gagne - Richards - Carcillo
Hartnell - Giroux - Briere
JVR - Powe - Asham
Leino - Betts - Laperriere

Carle - Pronger
Coburn - Timonen
Bartulis - Parent

Boucher
[Backlund]

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