Brayden Schenn

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Claude Giroux, in his first crisis as the Flyers' captain, harshly criticized his struggling team for "going through the motions" in Montreal on Saturday night. For one day, at least, the motion sickness is over. As if on cue, 26 seconds into the Flyers' first game since Giroux's outburst, the 25-year-old center scored on a rebound and finished with three points, sparking a 7-0 romp over the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Monday afternoon.

MONTREAL - Before we discuss one of the Flyers' hot-button topics in the season's first month - center Claude Giroux's slow start - let's switch to baseball for a moment. During Chase Utley's heyday, one of the things that made him such a great hitter was the fact that Ryan Howard batted behind him, giving the second baseman better pitches to hit. Take Howard out of the lineup and Utley doesn't have much protection. In a sense, Giroux's early-season slump is because his "Howard" has been removed.

NEWARK, N.J. - The Flyers briskly exited the dressing room Friday night into a corridor and then to a waiting bus at the Prudential Center, a walk that included a familiar feeling in this venue. Their 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils was the Flyers' sixth consecutive to the Devils, a skid that includes the 2012 postseason. Four of those defeats came in New Jersey, and the Flyers have not won on the Devils' ice in their last five attempts. Friday offered a chance to halt the drought, especially when the Flyers jumped to a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period.

NEWARK, N.J. - The Flyers briskly exited the dressing room Friday night into a corridor and then to a waiting bus at the Prudential Center, a walk that included a familiar feeling in this venue. Their 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils was the Flyers' sixth consecutive to the Devils, a skid that includes the 2012 postseason. Four of those defeats came in New Jersey, and the Flyers have not won on the Devils' ice in their last five attempts. Friday offered a chance to halt the drought, especially when the Flyers jumped to a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - In the first three-plus weeks of the season, the Flyers have been maddeningly inconsistent and have rarely put together three strong periods. Tuesday was an exception. The Flyers finally played well in all three zones in each period, and the result was a much-needed, 3-2 win over Winnipeg, a victory that ended their four-game road losing streak. "What I liked about it was it was 60 minutes of a committed hockey team that went out to win a game to keep us moving in the right direction," coach Peter Laviolette said after the Flyers improved to 2-6 on the road.

TORONTO - If Flyers coach Peter Laviolette decides to call Brian Boucher's name Tuesday night in Winnipeg, the veteran goalie says he is ready for his first NHL start since last season. "Yeah, absolutely," Boucher said after rejoining the Flyers and taking part in their morning practice before Monday night's game in Toronto. "I played a bit in Adirondack, so it's been good. Anytime you get game sharpness, it certainly helps, and I feel it's been a good thing for me. " Laviolette would not commit to Tuesday's goalie.

TORONTO - Nearly 2 years younger, Flyers forward Brayden Schenn has relied on his older brother, Luke, to help navigate the ropes of the NHL. Luke Schenn had nearly 150 NHL games under his belt by the time Brayden finally got his chance with the Flyers last season. This year, the protégé has guided the veteran. "He's got a little seniority with the Flyers," Luke Schenn said with a smile. "He's showed me the ways a little bit. " Brayden was traded to the Flyers from Los Angeles in 2011.

The Schenn brothers - Luke and Brayden - played a major role in the Flyers' 4-3 overtime win over Carolina on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center. Luke Schenn, a bruising defenseman, had eight hits and six blocked shots in a team-high 24 minutes, 50 seconds, while Brayden had a goal and two assists as the Flyers concluded a 3-0-1 homestand. "Seven of eight points. We'll take it," said Luke Schenn, who will face his former Toronto teammates Monday. "It was good to get back on track a little bit, but we have to be a lot better on the road.

If the Flyers continue their awful road pace, they will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for just the second time in the last 18 seasons. Yes, the Flyers' 1-5 road record is a small sample. Yes, they can turn it around. Yes, it's early. But not as early as you might think. The Flyers will begin their longest road stretch of the season Monday in Toronto. The game will match players traded for one another in the offseason, Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn and Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk.

The Flyers' four-game homestand ended the way it started - with a victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Danny Briere scored with 3 minutes, 13 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Flyers to a 4-3 win on Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center. Briere, who scored the 11th regular-season overtime goal of his career, struggled at times during the game and was unhappy with his line's overall performance. "He even said he doesn't have to be seen much all game long, but he's that kind of player who steps up at the right time," winger Jake Voracek said.