Stevens happy with Flyers' defense

With the March 4 trade deadline approaching, there have been suggestions that the Flyers need to add a physical defenseman - such as Anaheim's Chris Pronger - to make a legitimate Stanley Cup run.

John Stevens doesn't buy it.

"I've said all along we're very happy with what's back there. We're very comfortable," the Flyers' coach said after yesterday's practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

"I think our defense defends pretty well, and just because of the tradition here and the identity the whole organization has, people just assume that's what we're missing."

Stevens said he understood the need to explore the trade market, but he thinks that this team - which will get a trade-like boost when injured center Danny Briere returns - is well-suited for the stretch run and the playoffs.

"I still think we're a pretty confident group and we can compete with anybody," the coach said.

Stevens said he was pleased with the physical play of defensemen Andrew Alberts, Ryan Parent and Ossi Vaananen, who has been a healthy scratch recently. "And Kimmo [Timonen] may be one of the best defenders in the league," he added.

He said each pairing - Timonen and Parent, Braydon Coburn and Matt Carle, and Randy Jones and Alberts - has size, defensive talent, and puck-moving skills.

"I think it's set up well," Stevens said. "Even with Ossi being the odd-man out right now, we love what he brings to our team, and he can come in and play with pretty much anybody and do a good job."

Parent played just 22 regular-season games with the Flyers last year. Carle, Alberts and Vaananen are in their first season with the team.

"Our newness was on our back end this year . . . and I think the chemistry for the pairings takes time," Stevens said. "We had to find guys who were comfortable on the right side because we've got all lefties back there, but I think it's evolved."

Power-play woes. The Flyers' power play is struggling mightily - 4 for 43 (9.3 percent) in the last 10 games, 1 for 12 in the last four games, and scoreless in the last nine chances.

Without the creative Briere for 46 games, the Flyers' power play still had been No. 1 or No. 2 in the league for most of the season, but it has slipped to No. 4 with a 23.4 percent success rate.

"I guess every power play can shoot the puck more. That seems to be a constant," winger Mike Knuble said.

Stevens wants the team to "move the puck a little quicker and get more pucks to the net. At times, I think we try to hold it too long."

Coburn said when the power play is struggling, "you have to pick it up in another area. Pick up the five-on-five play, and I think we've been doing that."

Breakaways. After implying he would be ready to return Tuesday in Washington, Briere seemed more cautious yesterday. Briere, who is returning from groin and abdominal surgery, pushed himself in drills and said he was "feeling stronger," but hinted that returning Wednesday against visiting Los Angeles was more likely.

The Flyers suffered a 5-2 loss to Ottawa last Thursday after three days off following a weekend sweep. Tonight, they host Buffalo after three days off following another weekend sweep. "Buffalo is playing well and a lot is at stake now," said Stevens, who added a drill at the end of practice with the hope it would help the team start crisply tonight.