newjerseydevils.com – The Devils hope a visit from the Philadelphia Flyers can cure their recent struggles.

Just 24 hours removed from their season-high fifth straight loss, the Devils look to get back on track when they host the Flyers tonight at Prudential Center (7 p.m., MSG Plus, WFAN 660 AM).

New Jersey (42-28-7) gave up two third-period goals in falling 3-2 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The club slipped into fifth in the East, three points ahead of Philadelphia.

Patrik Elias and Zach Parise each scored for New Jersey, which blew a 2-1 lead against the Rangers and has just five goals in its last five games after recording eight total in its two victories prior to the skid.

"We can't afford to lose games like this at this time of year," captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "It's extremely frustrating for us, a team that prides itself on being able to finish games."

Martin Brodeur made 28 saves in his fifth consecutive loss, but tries to bounce back with a sixth straight win over Philadelphia. Brodeur has started all six contests versus the Flyers this season, posting a 2.00 GAA in those games.

Parise, the team leader with 31 goals, had two in the Devils' most recent win over Philadelphia, a 7-3 decision on Jan. 22.

The Flyers opened their current four-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime victory against the Rangers on Tuesday. Philadelphia is looking to win its fifth in a row while trying to avoid a 12th consecutive road loss to the Devils.

Daniel Briere recorded his 30th goal and Mike Richards scored 2:16 into overtime for the Flyers, who have outscored their opponents 6-2 in their last two games.

Martin Biron has stopped 63 of the 65 shots he's faced in his last two contests, but is 1-3-0 with a 3.75 goals-against average versus the Devils this season. He has lost all seven of his previous starts in New Jersey.

Briere, who has four goals and two assists in his last three games, has scored just twice against the Devils this season.

Tied with Boston for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, but just two points ahead of ninth-place Washington, Philadelphia (39-28-10) hasn't won in New Jersey since a 3-1 victory there on March 9, 2004. The Flyers, losers of five in a row overall to the Devils after winning the first meeting of the season 4-0 on Oct. 18, have been outscored 11-3 in three trips to New Jersey in 2007-08.

The Devils haven't lost six in a row since November 2000, and wrap up the season series with the Flyers at Wachovia Center on April 4.

with wire services