Matt Read

The captain has come to play hockey.

Only days after a candid interview in which he told reporters there has been a lack of effort on the ice by the team, Claude Giroux backed up his biting words with a two-goal effort, leading the Flyers past the Islanders, 7-0.

It was Giroux's first two-goal game of the 2013 season, and he snapped a seven-game goal drought in the process.

(Pictured: Claude Giroux celebrates with Jakub Voracek in the first period after scoring. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Scott Hartnell’s return to the Flyers lineup is inevitable.

Certainly it’s going to be a huge bonus getting back the team’s leader in goals scored last season with _. But a bit of a dilemma will hit head coach Peter Laviolette when his star left-winger does return.

Unfortunately for the Flyers, the guys for them who are playing their best hockey are the guys who aren’t doing the scoring. And those who need to step their game up and perform better are those relied upon to put the puck in the back of the net.

(Pictured: Mike Knuble battles for a puck on February 11. Chris Young/The Canadian Press/AP)

The Flyers got lucky in the first. But they weren't so lucky in the second.

Mishaps in at the beginning of the first two periods set the tone for the Flyers in their 5-3 loss to New Jersey, Friday night.

Just 40 seconds into the game, Ilya Kovalchuk hooked up with Travis Zajac to put the Devils up 1-0. Zajac fired a wrister that snuck underneath the right arm of Ilya Bryzgalov to put the Devils on the board before a whole minute could come off the clock.

(Pictured: Ilya Kovalchuk shoots on Ilya Bryzgalov in the second. Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Flyers, who have earned points in each of their last four games, start a six-game road trip in Toronto. Luke Schenn returns to Toronto to face the team who drafted him.