RALEIGH, NC - If Martin Biron and the Philadelphia Flyers are trying to keep their opponents guessing, they are cetainly doing a great job of smokescreening everyone, including their fans.

Biron made 40 saves and Mike Knuble had a goal and two assists to lead the Flyers to a solid 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night at RBC Center. It was the second victory for the Flyers in Raleigh in a week, and their 3rd win over a division leader in that same span. The Flyers defeated the Northeast division leading Ottawa Senators 4-3 on Saturday night.

But it is the Jekyll and Hyde act that the Flyers have been exhibiting over the last few weeks that have Philadelphia fans wondering which team is the real deal. Mixed amongst those 3 impressive victories were two terribly lackluster losses, one to the Boston Bruins and the other to the NHL-worst Washington Capitals.

But on this night, the Flyers were able to bring a sixty minute effort that kept the 'Canes off their game for all but approximately the final 8 minutes of the game. But even then, the Flyers weathered the storm and never backed down from the speedy assault Carolina was able to bring in an effort to close a 3-0 third period deficit.

Derian Hatcher and Kimmo Timonen provided the Flyers' first two goals of the night in the 2nd period, and Knuble scored just 33 seconds into the 3rd to pile on a lead that the Flyers would never see challenged.

Hatcher, who played in his first game since late October due to knee surgery, got his first goal of the season after he was dumped in front of the net, but got up and got repeated shots off at Carolina goaltender Cam Ward before finally poking it home to put the Flyers up 1-0.

Timonen wound up as the beneficiary of a scramble in front of the Carolina net after a shot by Mike Richards was stopped by Ward, butthe puck trickled to Knuble right in front. Knuble attempted a shot that just missed the far post, but turned out to be an effective pass as Timonen was right there to receive the puck and throw at the wide open net to make it 2-0.

Finally, as the Flyers were on a power play to open the 3rd period, Richards stripped the puck from a Carolina defender as he attempted to move out of his own zone and sent the puck back down to the faceoff dot. Knuble took the pass, outmuscled his coverage, and got position for a quick wristshot that zipped past Ward to deflate the Hurricanes bench and arena.

Cory Stillman was able to at least deny Martin Biron a shutout when he scored a power play goal about halfway through the 3rd period that seemed to suddenly spark his team into competing. The Hurricanes outshot the Flyers from that point on, but Biron and his Philly teammates held the fort, didnt surrender a significant scoring chance, and even executed a crucial penalty kill within the final 3 minutes.

The solid performance by Biron came on the heels of a questionable showing against the Bruins on Monday night in which he was pulled for the 3rd time this season. Biron himself had recently acknowledged his positioning issues, but appeared to have overcome all of that by effectively shutting down nearly every chance the 'Canes could muster.

The win extends the Flyers Atlantic division lead over the Rangers, and gives them 30 points in the standings. The Flyers didn't earn their 30th point last season until January 30th.

NOTES: Simon Gagne again was scratched as he continues to fight the effects of post concussion syndrome. Rory Fitzpatrick was scratched in favor of Hatcher's return. This game is the final one to be served by Steve Downie for his 20 game suspension, but the first game of two to be served by Scott Hartnell.