Winger

Flyers left winger James van Riemsdyk , who will turn 22 on Wednesday, has blossomed into one of the NHL's best players during these playoffs. Against the Bruins on Monday night, the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder scored two goals in the first period to extend his goal-scoring streak to five games. Van Riemsdyk scored goals in each of the last three games against Buffalo and one in Game 1 against the Bruins. He ended Monday night's game with eight shots. The native of Middletown, N.J., has seven goals on a team-high 59 shots in nine playoff games this year against the Sabres and Bruins.

Rangers extend win streak to five Brandon Dubinsky broke up a scoreless game 7 minutes, 49 seconds into the third period and Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves as the host New York Rangers used defense to beat the Florida Panthers, 1-0, on Tuesday night and stretch their winning streak to a season-high five games. Elsewhere: Ryan Miller made 31 saves to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 2-0 win over the host Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres remained three points ahead of ninth-place Carolina, but was unable to gain ground on the seventh-place New York Rangers.

TAMPA, Fla. - If there were any doubts about whether the Flyers felt this was their season to end their three-plus-decade Stanley Cup drought, they were erased on Monday night. In a move that sacrificed the future, the Flyers acquired productive right winger Kris Versteeg from Toronto for their first- and third-round draft picks in 2011. Versteeg, 24, who played for the Chicago team that beat the Flyers in last year's Stanley Cup Finals, had 14 goals and 21 assists and was minus-13 for the lowly Maple Leafs this season.

Flyers Notes NEWARK, N.J. - The Flyers would like to add veteran New Jersey Devils winger Jamie Langenbrunner to their already-deep lineup, The Inquirer has learned. Langenbrunner, who is in the last year of a $2.8 million contract, was asked to waive his no-trade clause and was not in Thursday's lineup against the Flyers. The Flyers have about $3.6 million of acquisition space available - enough room to add Langenbrunner. Langenbrunner, 35, is having a subpar season, with four goals and 10 assists in 31 games.

Flyers Notes ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Flyers' road trip should be labeled As the Goaltender Turns . Three games. Three starting goaltenders. On Friday night, rookie Sergei Bobrovsky started against Anaheim. It was just his third start in the last nine games - and first since a 5-0 loss to Florida on Dec. 20. "It's his turn," coach Peter Laviolette deadpanned before the game. Laviolette is juggling three goalies: Bobrovsky, Brian Boucher , and Michael Leighton . "I'm trying to manage the three goaltenders," the coach said.

Dan Carcillo practiced with the Flyers Monday for the first time since he sprained his left knee against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 15. But the question is, when the feisty winger is ready for game action, will there be a spot for him in the lineup? With Carcillo sidelined, wingers Andreas Nodl, James van Riemsdyk and Nik Zherdev have raised their level of play. And winger Darroll Powe is a valuable penalty-killer, so it would be difficult to take him out of the lineup. Jody Shelley (6-foot-3, 230 pounds)

It's amazing what a shot of confidence has done for Andreas Nodl, the Flyers' blossoming 23-year-old winger. In his first two stints with the Flyers, Nodl played 58 games, including the playoffs, and scored one goal. One. Fans began referring to him as Andreas Nogoal . Not anymore. In 11 games this season, Nodl has scored five goals - none prettier, or more important, than the spin-around backhander that gave the Flyers a 4-3 lead with 6 minutes, 7 seconds left in regulation Saturday in Washington.

Although Flyers coach Peter Laviolette would not reveal his decisions, all signs point to rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky making his 10th straight start and left winger James van Riemsdyk returning to the lineup Monday against visiting Ottawa. Monday figured to be a good time to play backup goalie Brian Boucher, who hasn't started since Oct. 25. The Flyers will have games on back-to-back nights - they play in Montreal on Tuesday - and Bobrovsky, sooner or later, is going to need a rest.

Nik Zherdev was chosen fourth overall, by Columbus, in the deep 2003 NHL draft. The right winger was selected ahead of Thomas Vanek and Zach Parise. Ahead of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. Ahead of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. And several others who are now high-quality NHL players. Thursday, he was demoted to the Flyers' fourth line during their practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. Two games ago, he was removed from the power-play unit. That explains why Zherdev, who has been upset that he's averaging only about 12 1/2 minutes per game, was not a happy camper Thursday; he refused to talk with reporters.

The Flyers, getting ready to defend their Eastern Conference title, made eight roster moves Monday - including the release of veteran winger Bill Guerin - in preparation for Thursday's opener in Pittsburgh. Guerin's release means that 23-year-old winger Andreas Nodl figures to start the season on the roster. The 39-year-old Guerin, who was in camp on a tryout, had one goal and was minus-2 in five preseason games. The owner of 429 career goals and two Stanley Cup rings, Guerin was bothered by an infected elbow during the preseason.