Wayne Simmonds

After missing six games because of a concussion, Flyers center Danny Briere returned to the lineup Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. Briere, who began the game with 13 goals this season, suffered the concussion Jan. 21 during a 4-1 win in New Jersey. "Hopefully, I can provide a little spark," Briere said after taking part in Tuesday's morning skate. "It's been a little tough since the [all-star] break, especially at home. I don't like our record at home; it's something we want to improve.

Sean Couturier is in. Brayden Schenn is out. For now. The Flyers' opening-night roster became clearer after they waived three players - including veteran center Blair Betts, one of their top penalty killers - and sent Schenn, Harry Zolnierczyk, and Erik Gustafsson to the AHL Phantoms on Tuesday. Schenn, a 20-year-old center, was acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent Mike Richards to Los Angeles in June. In addition to Betts, defensemen Matt Walker and Oskars Bartulis were waived.

Winger Jaromir Jagr scored a pair of power-play goals, Wayne Simmonds was involved in controversy with Sean Avery, and center Brayden Schenn suffered an upper-body injury in the Flyers' lively 5-3 exhibition win over the New York Rangers on Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Jagr, 39, has a total of three goals in two games. He figures to bolster a power play that was 19th among 30 teams with a 16.6 percent success rate last season. The Flyers' power play was 3 for 8 Monday.

Flyers Notes WASHINGTON - Even with all their injuries, the Flyers have eight players who have participated in all 29 games, including Tuesday's matchup at the Verizon Center against the Washington Capitals. One of them is defenseman Matt Carle, who entered Tuesday second on the Flyers in time on ice, averaging 22 minutes, 26 seconds per game. Only Chris Pronger, who has averaged 22.28, but has appeared in just 13 games, has a higher average among Flyers.

The NHL lockout reached its ninth day on Monday - and for the ninth day, the sides did not have any formal negotiations. But at least they were in the same room in Toronto. Ah, baby steps. Representatives for the owners and players' union, in a meeting that was previously scheduled, met to discuss last season's hockey-related revenue numbers. No new meeting dates were scheduled to talk about a new collective-bargaining agreement. "It's fair to say both sides are working, but they're working internally right now," Bill Daly, the NHL's deputy commissioner, told reporters outside the league's Toronto offices.

On Black Friday, the NHL took another step toward being dark this season. As in "fade to black. " The NHL canceled two more weeks of games, which means the league has erased its schedule through Dec. 14. If you're scoring at home, 34 percent of this season has been canceled because of the labor war between the league and the players' union. The league also canceled the All-Star Game in Columbus. Bill Daly, the NHL's deputy commissioner, said the league intends to return the all-star festivities to Columbus "as quickly as possible.

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.

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.

Is it too early for the Flyers to start targeting players who would upgrade their sad-sack offense? In a normal 82-game season, probably. In a lockout-shortened 48-game season, no. The Flyers have played only nine games, but that accounts for almost 20 percent of the abbreviated season. Heading into Saturday night's game against Carolina, the Flyers had two goals or fewer in seven of their first eight games. They had a total of seven in their six losses. Several unrestricted free agents this summer will draw the Flyers' attention, but those same players may be available in trades before then.

Chris Pronger's eye injury, suffered when he was hit by the inadvertent stick of Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski on Monday, has started the Great Visor Debate. Pronger is one of six Flyers who don't wear a visor. The others: Matt Walker, Andreas Lilja, Max Talbot, Wayne Simmonds, and Jody Shelley. The NHL does not make visors mandatory, though there has been an increased use in recent years. Even if Pronger wore a visor, there were no guarantees he wouldn't have been severely injured, Walker said.