RALEIGH, NC - What began as an uninspired, unemotional game for the Philadelphia Flyers turned in the final 2 periods into a huge win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night at the RBC Center.

Danny Briere broke out with a hat trick, his first since joining the Flyers and his first since January. All three of Briere's goals came within a 14:18 span in the 3rd period, and he added an assist as well as he helped his team break a 2 game losing streak and stay within 2 points of the Atlantic Division leading New York Rangers.

Mike Knuble and Kimmo Timonen scored for the Flyers in the 2nd period to pull the Flyers from a 1-0 deficit to a 2-1 lead. Knuble also had a pair of assists, each coming on a Briere goal.

Martin Biron made 32 saves to earn the win.

Matt Cullen, Rod Brind'Amour, and Eric Staal each scored for the Hurricanes on the power play. The Flyers had been particularly stingy on the penalty kill, having given up just 1 power play goal in the previous 6 games.

Briere's first goal came on the power play and just 21 seconds into the 3rd period off of a mistake by Carolina goaltender Cam Ward. Ward attempted to clear the puck through the right faceoff circle, but the puck was nabbed by Knuble, who then backhanded a pass across the slot to a wide open Briere.

Stall did bring the Canes back to within A goal, but Briere found the puck again with a rebound of Braydon Coburn's slap shot for his 2nd goal at 3:04.

Then, Briere completed the hat trick with a beautiful, yet slippery move through 4 Carolina defenders before putting a wrist shot past Ward for another power play tally at 14:39.

The Hurricanes were able to maintain their competitive level, however, and still gave the Flyers all they could handle at times. But, the final momentum shift happened after the Flyers were able to kill a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:17 in the 3rd period. Briere's final goal came shortly after the kill ended.

Scott Hartnell then put the finishing touches on the game with an empty net goal with 31 seconds left. It was Hartnell's 2nd goal of the season, the 1st of which also was scored with an empty net.