GAME: Edmonton Oilers (15-18-7-1) at Philadelphia Flyers (20-7-10-5).

TIME: Saturday, 7 p.m. EST.

A bitter contract dispute with the Edmonton Oilers left restricted free agent Mike Comrie looking for a new place to play.

The Philadelphia Flyers were happy to give him one.

Comrie faces his former team for the first time since being dealt to the Flyers when Edmonton visits Philadelphia.

Edmonton offered Comrie the minimum raise allowed entering this season, which he rejected. The Oilers would not negotiate and Comrie asked to be traded after posting 20 goals and 31 assists in 69 games for the Oilers during the 2002-03 season.

The Oilers thought they had a deal in early December to send Comrie to Anaheim, but it was held up by Edmonton general manager Kevin Lowe, who wanted Comrie to pay the club $2.5 million first.

Philadelphia moved in and acquired the rights to Comrie on Dec. 16 for former first-round pick Jeff Woywitka and two draft picks. Comrie signed a one-year deal with the Flyers four days later.

He played his first game for Philadelphia on Dec. 27, and has three goals and three assists with a plus-2 rating in seven contests for the Flyers.

Comrie assisted on Jeremy Roenick's goal that gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead in the first period against Florida on Thursday, but the Flyers couldn't hold on and lost 4-3 in overtime to the Panthers at the Wachovia Center.

Philadelphia is winless in three contests since a three-game unbeaten streak.

"It's frustrating," Flyers forward John LeClair said. "If you look at the last two games we felt like we played more than well enough to win. We've got to find a way to be better and make our shots count."

Edmonton began its season high-tying six-game road trip with two straight wins, but then went on to lose its next two contests. The Oilers fell 3-2 to the New York Islanders on Thursday and saw their point streak end at four games.

Against New York, Cory Cross scored at 17:18 of the third period to tie the game at 2-2, but the Islanders scored the winner 1:24 later.

"It's frustrating, especially to tie it late and then to lose it," Oilers forward Mike York said. "We have two games left on this road trip and we have to learn from this game and move forward. We can't afford to slack off."