NHL: Philadelphia 5, Atlanta 2

ATLANTA, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Danny Briere put Philadelphia in front with 7:12 to play Friday and the Flyers closed strong in downing Atlanta 5-2.

Philadelphia boosted its point total to 61, best in the Eastern Conference, and halted a four-game losing streak to the Thrashers.

The contest was deadlocked at 2-2 heading into the final period but Briere, Claude Giroux and Jeff Carter all scored down the stretch to hand Atlanta its eighth loss in 11 games. Carter's goal was an empty-netter.

Sergei Bobrovsky got the win in his second start of the new year, making 27 saves.

Ondrej Pavelec stopped 31-of-35 shots to take the loss.