Look for some Flyers' improvements

THE FLYERS closed out the preseason on Saturday night in New Jersey with a 4-2-1 record, which counts about as much in the NHL regular season as yesterday's Lions-Cowboys score. The real tests start Thursday night in Boston, but we'll attempt to answer five looming questions here:

* Does this team have enough offense?

Questions lingered all offseason, after Jeff Carter and Mike Richards were traded away, about whether the Flyers would have the firepower to win close games.

It's a quick and dirty calculation, with an admittedly limited sample size, but just based on their production in the preseason alone - excluding Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Devils, which featured a roster laden with players already sent to AHL Adirondack - the Flyers appear to have the goods to score at an even pace with last year's roster.

They netted 19 goals in six exhibition games (3.16 goals per game), which is a tick higher than last season's 3.15 gpg over 82 contests. Their problem, though, might be scoring at even-strength.

Over a two-game stretch in the preseason, five of the Flyers' six goals scored were on the power play; the other was an empty-netter.

Jaromir Jagr has scored at a prodigious pace, especially on the power play, so he looks like a lock to hit the 50-point plateau that the Flyers were banking on when they signed him. They also will pick up points from Matt Read (seven points) and Wayne Simmonds (five points), with increased production from Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk.

The interesting thing is that the Flyers have seen little point production by some big-name newcomers, like Jakub Voracek (two points) or the injured Brayden Schenn (one point).

"We need to not get too full of ourselves," Danny Briere warned. "Most teams are not playing with all of their guys in their lineups. It's good to see [us scoring]. I'd rather have it that way, and have something to look forward to, than having to fight through frustration."

* Prediction: Flyers score 248 goals (3.02 GPG).

* Is Ilya Bryzgalov the answer?

It's nearly impossible to put any stock in Bryzgalov's early preseason audition, in which he had an unsightly 3.03 goals-against average in his first three appearances.

Why? Bryzgalov said himself that he has little to prove in the preseason, especially against erratic NHL talent.

"Every year it's tougher and tougher," Bryzgalov said. "Your body gets beat up."

Bryzgalov asked to play a full 60 minutes on Saturday as his final tune-up before opening the Flyers open the season Thursday night in Boston and did not disappoint. The Flyers dressed just over the minimum number of veterans to play on Saturday but Bryzgalov posted his second straight solid outing, stopping 18 of 20 shots. It's safe to say we'll see a different Bryzgalov starting this week.

* Prediction: Bryzgalov goes 38-14-10, 2.25 GAA, .927 save percentage.

* Which special teams unit will perform better?

The good news is that both the power play and penalty kill will be much improved. The power play will finish in the NHL's top ten, with Jagr helping to quarterback the unit from the half-wall, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the penalty kill will edge them out in the standings after receiving a shot in the arm this offseason.

So many different players in Peter Laviolette's lineup could see time in down-a-man situations, including but not limited to Max Talbot, Sean Couturier, Read and Simmonds. Those additions have not only made Andreas Nodl and Blair Betts expendable, but they also can help cut back on Giroux' on-ice responsibilities.

The Flyers' penalty kill was a middle-of-the-road 15th last season with an 82.8 percent success rate. With depth, they can be north of 85 percent.

* Prediction: penalty kill (fourth), power play (sixth).

* Which player will surprise the most?

We like Jagr. He is a trendy pick, based on his play in the preseason. But few Flyers fans thought he had much left in the tank after playing out his 3-year deal in Russia. At 39, Jagr is the Flyers' oldest player. He also may have the most talent. His hands are like pillows, he is crafty in high-traffic areas and he has an ability that can't be taught: how to score.

* Prediction: Jagr nets 64 points.

* What will be this team's biggest struggle?

The NHL season is long and grueling. It wouldn't surprise me, based on the camaraderie and success shown already, if this team got off to a strong start. Even without chemistry or continuity, a healthy Bryzgalov in net can mask any blemishes in the foundation.

And games are easier to win in October than in March.

This current crop of players has had to overcome little by way of adversity - after all, they haven't yet lost a game. At some point this season, the Flyers will hit a rough patch of ice, either through injuries or a losing streak. That is the law of averages. How they handle that adversity will determine how the Flyers finish. Like the preseason, the Flyers didn't turn their roster upside-down this summer just to finish strong in the regular-season standings.

* Prediction: Flyers finish fourth in East, then . . .