(Best E Casino) - The Philadelphia Flyers will try for their fifth straight win against the Pittsburgh Penguins this afternoon, as the two clubs square off at Mellon Arena.

After losing all eight tests versus Pittsburgh last season, the Flyers have won the first four matchups of this season's series by a 20-8 edge, taking three at home and one in Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia's win at Mellon Arena on November 7 snapped a five-game series road losing streak to Pittsburgh, which has still won nine of the last 14 meetings overall in the series.

The Flyers also carry a six-game overall road winning streak into today's test, and the club is 17-10-0 as the visiting team.

While the Flyers have been successful against the Penguins this year, the club has struggled against another division rival, the New York Rangers. Stephen Valiquette made 31 saves to post his second straight shutout against Philadelphia as the Rangers downed the Flyers, 2-0, on Saturday.

Valiquette was in net on January 31 in Philadelphia, the last time these teams met, and posted 20 saves for his first career shutout.

The Flyers were let down by their power play, as the second ranked unit in the league (24.6 percent) went 0-for-5 on the man advantage. Philadelphia also gave up two power-play goals to New York.

Martin Biron made 31 save for the Flyers, who have dropped their last two games for first time since a six-game slide (0-4-2) from December 13-22. Biron has started all four of Philadelphia's wins over Pittsburgh this year, posting a 2.00 goals-against average in that span.

Joffrey Lupul returned to the ice after missing the last 13 games with a mild concussion and spinal cord contusion. He replaced Scottie Upshall, who is out at least a week due to a sprained right ankle.

Philadelphia also lost defenseman Braydon Coburn indefinitely yesterday after he suffered a torn glute muscle.

The loss dropped the Flyers out of first place and into third in the Atlantic Division, two points behind first-place Pittsburgh.

The Penguins took over sole possession of the division with yesterday's 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Evgeni Malkin continued to carry his club in Sidney Crosby's absence, netting two power-play goals and an assist.

Malkin has 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists) in nine games since Crosby went down with a high ankle sprain. Pittsburgh is 5-2-2 in that span, and Malkin has three goals and eight assists during a current four-game point streak.

The Russian has six goals and eight assists in 11 career tests versus the Flyers.

Ryan Malone pitched in with a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who have won three of their last four games. Dany Sabourin saved 26-of-28 shots.

Sabourin, though, is 0-2-0 with a 4.88 GAA in two career games against Philadelphia, while Ty Conklin is 0-1-0 with a 5.31 GAA in two appearances against them this year.

Pittsburgh has won the first two tests of a four-game homestand that wraps versus Boston on Wednesday. The Pens are 16-9-3 at Mellon Arena this year.