Strange one tonight vs. the Leafs.

Great first period. Horrible second period. O.K. third period.

Still very erratic.

Not much joy in the locker room after this one because they know there's something a little wrong.

More on that tomorrow though.

For now, chew on these tidbits:

The Flyers have now gone 99 consecutive games without allowing a shorthanded goal, the second-longest streak in the modern era of the NHL (post-expansion).

The 1975-76 Montreal Canadiens went 122 games without allowing a shortie.

Jeff Carter's hat trick was his first of his career.

Danny Briere's four-point night matched a career-high. It was the third time in his career he had a four-point game and the first since Nov. 21, 2007.

Claude Giroux had his second 3-point game this season, matching a career high.

Scott Hartnell scored his 30th goal, the first time in his career he reached that plateau.

It was the first time the Flyers scored five goals in a period since Feb. 12, 2007 against Detroit and the first time in an opening period since Nov. 15, 2006 against Anaheim.

The Flyers are now one win away from clinching the playoffs - which they can do against Ottawa Saturday.

In other news:

Dave Hanson of the "Hanson brothers" from the movie "Slap Shot" was in the house to watch his son Christian Hanson make his NHL debut for the Maple Leafs.

Flyers' assistant coach Joe Mullen is also a proud papa as his son Patrick Mullen signed a two-year entry level contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

And how about this bit of interesting alumni news:

In an interview with a Canadian television network, former Flyers' captain Keith Primeau announced he would donate his brain to science upon his death.

Primeau said he would donate his brain to the Sports Legacy Institute in Massachusetts.

"I think the beginning of my demise goes back to the playoff situation
back in 2000," said Primeau. "I got laid out at centre ice and got carried off on a stretcher. I stayed overnight in a Pittsburgh hospital, only to return two nights
later against New Jersey. And that was ultimately the beginning of my
demise."

Primeau suffered his first official concussion and missed 21 games in
the 2003-04. In the 2004 playoffs he suffered two more head injuries, but managed to play in 18 games that post-season. The final blow came two years later on Oct.
25 when Primeau, then 34, was concussed again after a hit from Montreal's Alexander Perezhogin. He missed the rest of that season and in September 2006 was finally forced to retire.

Primeau hopes his decision will aid in the research to help others avoid the pain he suffered as a professional hockey player.

The Sports Legacy Institute is dedicated to studying the effects of concussions and other sports related brain injuries in order to maximize the safety and vitality of all athletes who participate in contact and collision sports around the globe.