Streaking Flyers to face Carolina again

Fresh off a 3-1 victory over the Hurricanes Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C., the Flyers will play Carolina in a rematch at the Wachovia Center today at 1 p.m.

The Flyers will wear their retro orange jerseys for the first time. The team practiced briefly yesterday morning at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

Center Danny Briere continues to make improvement in his recovery from a groin injury, increasing his chances of playing today.

Marty Biron will get the start in goal, Flyers coach John Stevens said.

In Wednesday's victory, left winger Simon Gagne scored his 12th and 13th goals and set up defenseman Matt Carle's game-winning score in the third period.

Gagne has recorded at least a point in each of his last nine games (five goals, 11 assists).

The Flyers have won six straight, matching their longest streak since Oct. 30-Nov. 12, 2005. In addition, they have won five straight meetings with Carolina.

"Party time? I don't know about that," defenseman Luca Sbisa said of the Flyers' winning ways. "For sure, it's great to be on a winning streak instead of being on a losing streak. We didn't have a pretty good start to the season. . . . Now we're sitting in the other boat."

The Flyers (11-6-4) have gone 11-3-1 after starting 0-3-3. They have steadied themselves - even though injured defensemen Randy Jones and Ryan Parent have yet to play and Briere has missed 13 games with groin and abdominal injuries.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have lost three straight and are searching for answers.

"We played the first period like a game of pond hockey," Carolina coach Peter Laviolette said after Wednesday's loss.

"You can throw film out the window," Hurricanes winger Chad LaRose said. "I think execution and energy and heart and downright gritty work [are] where you're going to get it done."

- Sam Carchidi
and the Associated Press