Winless Flyers set to host Rangers

RANGERS (1-2-0) AT FLYERS (0-3-0)

TV: NHLN-US, MSG, CSN-PH

Season series: This is the first of five meetings between the Atlantic Division rivals. The Rangers have won eight straight against the Flyers. Philadelphia's last win was Feb. 20, 2011.

Big Story: Can things get any worse for the Flyers? They enter the game winless in three games and with just three goals, and now they'll be without last season's leading goal-scorer, Scott Hartnell, indefinitely with a foot injury.

Team Scope:

Rangers: Coach John Tortorella loaded his top line with his top offensive players Wednesday, and the result was the first win of the season.

Marian Gaborik scored three of his team's four goals, including the winning goal 27 seconds into overtime. Rick Nash and Brad Richards each had an assist on Gaborik's first goal.

Gaborik had played the first two games centered by Derek Stepan, with Taylor Pyatt and Chris Kreider the third man on the line, while Nash and Richards had played with Carl Hagelin and Arron Asham.

"He opens up a lot of space," Nash said of Gaborik. "He's one of the best scorers in the League and people better be aware when he's out there. For me and Richie [Richards], it opens up a little more space which is important."

Flyers: Danny Briere has watched his teammates suffer through this rough start, but hasn't been able to do much about it.

Still recovering from a wrist injury he sustained playing in Germany during the lockout, Briere skated on the top line in Wednesday's practice, at left wing with center Claude Giroux and right wing Jakub Voracek.

"It's tough to watch when you are feeling helpless and want to get back on the ice," Briere told CSNPhilly.com. "It's disappointing and frustrating, but I'm not too far away."

Briere almost certainly won't play Thursday, and hope remains for a return in time for next Tuesday's game at the Rangers.

Who's hot: Gaborik scored the game-winning goal 27 seconds into overtime, capping his 14th career hat trick.

Injury Report: Asham sat out Wednesday's game against the Bruins with a groin injury and is questionable for Thursday's game. … In addition to Briere and Hartnell, the Flyers will be without the suspended Brayden Schenn.