Let’s do the mathematical equation: Starting goaltender Ray Emery allows 12 goals in his last three starts and the Flyers lose all three games. Backup goaltender Brian Boucher surrenders three goals in his last two starts and the Flyers win both games, recording their only two victories in a five-game road trip. You are Flyers coach John Stevens. Who do you start in goal when the Flyers return to action for a Black Friday matinee against the Buffalo Sabres. In years’ past, when Marty Biron and Antero Niittymaki were his goaltenders, Stevens almost always went with the hot hand. But not this year. When Boucher opened the Flyers’ five-game road trip with a strong effort in a 2-1 win in L.A., Stevens went back to Emery two nights later in San Jose. So don’t expect to Boucher between the pipes Friday afternoon. Stevens has gone out of his way to make it clear Emery is the Flyers’ No. 1 goaltender this season, come hell or high goals-against average. Emery started 16 of the Flyers’ first 17 games and earned every one of those starts with his strong play. But when Emery struggled in losses to San Jose, Phoenix and Colorado, Stevens kept going back to him and he’s likely to do the same on Friday when the Flyers return home from their 2-3 road trip. The Flyers will be without Danny Briere, who will serve the second half of a two-gajme suspension for his senseless check to the face of Colorado’s Scott Hannan. FLYERS 2, ISLANDERS 1 Current Flyers backup goaltender Brian Boucher outdueled former Flyers starter and current Islanders backup Marty Biron with an impressive 28-save performance as the Flyers battled back from an early deficit and snapped a three-game losing streak. Scott Hartnell provided the game-winner with his second even-strength goal of the season when he blasted a slapshot from the high slot over Biron’s shoulder. In the absence of Danny Briere, who was serving the first game of a two-game suspension, Mike Richards logged a season-high 24:25 of ice time and scored a power-play goal in the first period to take the team lead with 10 goals. NOTES, QUOTES –The Flyers allowed just one shot in the third period, outshooting the Islanders 11-1. The last time the Flyers allowed one shot in any period was on Nov. 26, 2008 when they held the Hurricanes to one shot in the first period of a 3-1 win at Carolina. The last time the Flyers allowed one shot in the third period was on March 15, 2003 at Pittsburgh in a 4-1 win. –Desperate for some offensive spark without Danny Briere, coach John Stevens used centers Jeff Carter and Mike Richards on the same line on several occasions, shifting Carter to right wing. –For the second straight game the Flyers looked sleepy in the first period. They were outshot 17-9 by the Islanders in the opening 20 minutes. –The Flyers took another xx minutes in penalties and are now ranked third in the NHL in penalties minutes (363) and penalty minutes per game (16.7). They are also third in the NHL in minors (124) and fifth in majors (19). QUOTE TO NOTE “Richie found energy when he didn’t have any. He willed us to victory.” – coach John Stevens on Mike Richards ROSTER REPORT GOALTENDERS: Ray Emery, Brian Boucher DEFENSEMEN: Matt Carle, Chris Pronger, Braydon Coburn, Kimmo Timonen, Ryan Parent, Oskars Bartulis FIRST LINE: LW James van Riemsdyk, C Mike Richards, RW Arron Asham SECOND LINE: LW Scott Hartnell, C Jeff Carter, RW Claude Giroux THIRD LINE: LW Dan Carcillo, C Mika Pyorala, RW Ian Laperriere FOURTH LINE: LW Riley Cote, C Jared Ross, RW Andreas Nodl PLAYER NOTES –RW Ian Laperriere got into two fights – one with Brendan Witt and another with Nate Thompson – and now leads the Flyers with 50 penalty minutes, ranking him 14th in the NHL. –C Mike Richards logged a season-high 24:25 of ice time, including 4:28 on the penalty kill. –D Chris Pronger has gone three games without an assist and six without a goal. –D Matt Carle has gone three games without an assist and 11 games without a goal. MEDICAL REPORT LW Simon Gagne (hernia, 4-6 weeks); C Blair Betts (dislocated right shoulder, 4-6 weeks); LW Darroll Powe (hand/wrist, 4-6 weeks).

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