Max Talbot

Here is Inquirer staff writer Sam Carchidi's key to the game: Max Talbot's early shorthanded goal, a dribbler than got past Marc-Andre Fleury, tied the game at 1-1, took away the Pens' momentum, and started a horrendous afternoon for the goalie.

Twenty minutes after their Pittsburgh Comeback Tour was over, after the Flyers had pulled another escape that would have made Harry Houdini proud, Max Talbot was so exhausted he could barely move. The Flyers' hardworking forward had scored a shorthanded goal, assisted on another shorty, and compiled a career-best plus-5 rating - and he didn't have the energy to talk about it. His jersey drenched with sweat, Talbot sat in front of his locker after the Flyers' had-to-see-it-to- believe-it 8-5 win Friday over his former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he was approached by a swarm of reporters.

PITTSBURGH - Holding court before a gaggle of reporters, Max Talbot said Game 1 played out on Wednesday night exactly the way he thought it would. No, Talbot wasn't talking about the Flyers' ridiculous three-goal comeback. But having donned the proud sweaters of both of the franchises in this Eastern Conference quarterfinal death match over the last two seasons, he knew better than to expect the overblown nastiness on Wednesday. "I heard some quotes, that it's going to be a bloodbath," Talbot said.

ED BARKOWITZ PETER LAVIOLETTE won't be the league's coach of the year, the Blues' Ken Hitchcock will. But Laviolette has done a remarkable job keeping the ice beneath the Flyers' skates from turning into water. His reward for leading the Flyers to 103 points is getting the Penguins (108 points) in the first round. What it lacks in fairness, it makes up for in wonderful intrigue. The Flyers have to stay out of the penalty box and physical defenseman Nick Grossmann, who missed the last week of the season with a knee injury, has to be at least 85 percent.

BOSTON - Perhaps the Flyers should send a request to the NHL offices: Do not include afternoon games on our schedule. Pretty please. With goalie Tim Thomas snapping out of a slump and Patrice Bergeron netting the game-winner in a shootout, the Boston Bruins ended a four-game losing streak - and continued the Flyers' afternoon woes - as they scored a 3-2 win Saturday at TD Garden. The Flyers are 3-8-2 in early afternoon games this season, losing their last six. This matinee loss, however, was easier to accept than others.

BOSTON - Perhaps the Flyers should send a request to the NHL offices: Do not include afternoon games on our schedule. Pretty please. With goalie Tim Thomas snapping out of a slump and Patrice Bergeron netting the game-winner in a shootout, the Boston Bruins ended a four-game losing streak - and continued the Flyers' afternoon woes - as they scored a 3-2 win Saturday at TD Garden. The Flyers are 3-8-2 in early afternoon games this season, losing their last six. This matinee loss, however, was easier to accept than others.

CALGARY, Alberta - Having recently acquired defensemen Pavel Kubina and Nick Grossman, the Flyers are not expected to make a big splash at Monday's trade deadline, said a source close to the situation. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if they stayed pat, the source said. General manager Paul Holmgren continues to have exploratory talks with Columbus about winger Rick Nash, but the Blue Jackets want several top young players (and draft picks) that the Flyers do not want to move.

Veteran right winger Jaromir Jagr reiterated Thursday he would like to remain with the Flyers next season. "That's good to hear," coach Peter Laviolette said before Thursday's game against the New York Islanders. "He seems like he's been enjoying his time back here. There's a lot of smiling coming from him. His play on the ice, I think, shows that. " General manager Paul Holmgren has talked with Jagr's agent, Petr Svoboda, about re-signing the future Hall of Famer. "We'll see how it goes," Holmgren said, adding that he would like to retain Jagr.

Flyers Notes PITTSBURGH - Sean Couturier returned to the Flyers lineup Thursday against streaking Pittsburgh at the Consol Energy Center. The rookie center had been sidelined since teammate Kimmo Timonen's slap shot hit him near his left ear Dec. 17 against Boston. Couturier said that he originally lost most of his hearing in the ear, but that it was almost back to normal. "I haven't had any headaches or any bad symptoms. I feel great," Couturier said before the game.

PITTSBURGH - Jaromir Jagr has scored 658 goals in his sensational career, but the one he scored Thursday had to be one of the most satisfying. No, it didn't come in the heat of the playoffs, and it didn't come in the closing seconds of a tie game. Instead, it was scored against his former team and a city that has scorned him ever since he nixed a chance to rejoin the Penguins and signed with the Flyers. Jagr snapped a 1-1 tie by scoring on a backhander to the short side in the second period, sparking the Flyers to a 4-2 win over the Penguins before a raucous-turned-quiet, sellout crowd at the Consol Energy Center.