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Carter, Flyers face Panthers before All-Star break

Jan 21, 2009 - 11:28 AM Atlanta (17-25-5) at Philadelphia (24-12-9), 7:00 pm EST

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- With a tough stretch looming after the All-Star Game, Jeff Carter and the Philadelphia Flyers will hope to head into the break on a positive note.

It won't be easy as Carter and the Flyers host the suddenly surging Atlanta Thrashers on Wednesday.

The team's only representative at the midseason gala, Carter could enter the event as the NHL's leading goal-scorer. He ranks second in the league with 30 goals, one behind Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin.

Carter scored in Friday's 3-2 shootout victory over the Florida Panthers. Simon Gagne also tallied in regulation and netted the lone goal in the bonus format for Philadelphia, which avoided a third straight loss.

After the All-Star break, the Flyers will play five of their next six contests on the road with the only home game against the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins.

The Thrashers are on a three-game winning streak after defeating the Montreal Canadiens, 4-2, on Tuesday. It is just the second time this season that Atlanta has strung together consecutive wins.

Rookie defenseman Zach Bogosian is already showing signs of his potential. The 18-year-old, who was selected third overall in June's draft, scored a goal and set up another in each of the last two contests after not recording a point over his first 11 career games.