Flyers

IT WAS A SEASON to forget, one of just nine in 45 seasons in which the Flyers have not qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Rather than look back on the season, here's an inventory of what the Flyers have moving forward. (Players are listed alphabetically by position. Contracts are what's remaining.)   FORWARDS DANNY BRIERE Stats: 34 GP, 6 G, 10 A. Grade: C- Age: 35 Contract: 2 years, $13 million Outlook: Steep production drop, accounting for his worst career season.

Not many of us saw this coming. Not after the Flyers showed in the regular season that they were one of the NHL's most explosive teams. Not after the way the Flyers scored almost at will against thought-to-be-mighty Pittsburgh in the opening round of the playoffs. Not after the rookies demonstrated poise beyond their years and blended perfectly with the veterans for the first 89 games. Yet in their last four games, all losses, the rookies played like, well, rookies, and some of the usually dependable forwards were invisible.

Who: Flyers (5-3-1) at Washington Capitals (6-2-2) When: 7:05 Where: MCI Center, Washington TV: Comcast SportsNet Radio: WIP (610-AM)  

The Flyers signed defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon to a multiyear contract extension and reached an agreement with center Scott Laughton, a 2012 first-round pick, on an entry-level deal, the team announced on Wednesday. Details of Bourdon's contract were not released, but the deal reportedly is for two years and $1.225 million. Bourdon, a third-round draft pick in 2008, made his debut last season and scored four goals with three assists. The 22-year-old played in 45 games for the Flyers.

Who's Next? The Flyers will play the Bruins, Penguins, or Lightning in the Eastern Conference semifinals. That will be determined Wednesday night in a pair of Game 7s as Pittsburgh hosts Tampa Bay and Boston hosts Montreal. If Boston wins, it will play the Flyers no matter the outcome of the other game.

Good news for Flyers fans: The Orange and Black can take off a full period and still win a playoff game. Credit their irrepressible attack. Credit the fact that New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur is showing his age. Credit their legs for regaining some spring after six days off between games. "We probably were not in a game mode. Probably was in practice mode," Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov said about his team's clunker of a first period, which they overcame in a dramatic 4-3 overtime win over the Devils on Sunday at the percolating Wells Fargo Center.

Arron Asham has left the Flyers and crossed the state to sign a $700,000, 1-year contract with the Penguins. Asham, 32, a physical player who is considered an underrated shooter, had 10 goals, 14 assists and 126 penalty minutes for the Flyers last season, playing mostly on the fourth line. He added four goals and three points in 23 playoff games. Asham signed with the Flyers as a free agent in 2008. In his two seasons with the Flyers, he scored 18 goals with 26 assists and 281 penalty minutes.

When: Sunday at 7:30 p.m. (NBC-SN, 93.3 FM) Records: Flyers (13-16-1, 27 points, 12th place Eastern Conference); Penguins (24-8, 48 points, first place) At stake: The Flyers enter as losers of five of their last eight games and are five points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. The Penguins have an 11-game winning streak. . . . Eight of the Flyers' 18 remaining regular-season games are against teams between eighth and 13th place. A good record - say, 6-2 in that stretch - could make up ground quickly.

TORONTO - Thanks to goalie Ilya Bryzgalov's revival, most of the attention lately has revolved around the Flyers' improved defense. Rightfully so. The Flyers, despite numerous injuries to defensemen, began Saturday having allowed a total of six goals in their last five games. That's their best five-game stretch of the season. Byzgalov has his groove on. The defense, even though shorthanded, has made strides. And the offense has been the most productive in the NHL. Put it all together and - dare we say it?