GAME: Philadelphia Flyers (5-2-1) at Carolina Hurricanes (6-2-1).

TIME: Friday, 7 p.m. EDT.

The Carolina Hurricanes look to remain perfect on home ice when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at RBC Center.

Carolina improved to 4-0-0 at home this season with a 4-3 overtime win over Boston on Wednesday night, as Matt Cullen scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in overtime.

Coming from behind is not uncommon for the Hurricanes, who rallied to win after trailing by two goals for the second straight game.

"It's definitely not the scenario we want every night," said center Eric Staal, who finished with two assists. "But we're going to take the wins as they come."

Staal, the second overall pick in the 2003 draft, has been one of the NHL's most improved players this season. He is among the league leaders with 15 points after he had 31 points in 81 games as a rookie in 2003-04.

Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette says his team cannot allow teams to outplay them in the first two periods of games.

"We were not at our best in the first 40 minutes (in the last two games)," he said. "We weren't horrible, we were just playing the (other team's) game."

The Hurricanes are quick to credit rowdy home crowds for inspiring them to snap out of their early doldrums.

"We have some great fans," Cullen added. "I can't believe how loud it is in here."

The Flyers are also coming off an overtime win as they rallied for a 5-4 victory over visiting Florida on Thursday.

Peter Forsberg, who earlier missed a penalty shot, scored his first goal of the season with 49 seconds left in regulation, and Joni Pitkanen scored early in overtime to lift Philadelphia.

"I'm happy with the goal and I finally got it out of the way," Forsberg said. "It got kind of annoying to not score for a long time."

The Flyers continue to struggle on the penalty kill despite winning four of their last five games. They allowed three power-play goals on Thursday and rank 23rd in the NHL on the penalty kill.

STANDINGS: Flyers - 11 points, 2nd place, 2 PB, Atlantic Division. Hurricanes - 13 points, 1st place (tied), Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Flyers - Simon Gagne, 9 goals; Forsberg, 14 assists and 15 points; Donald Brashear, 20 PIM. Hurricanes - Staal and Cullen, 6 goals; Staal, 9 assists and 15 points; Mike Commodore, 15 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Flyers - Power play: 14.5 percent (8 for 55), 22nd in NHL. Penalty killing: 76.7 percent (56 for 69), 24th. Hurricanes - Power play: 17.2 percent (10 for 58), 15th. Penalty killing: 84 percent (42 for 50), 11th.

GOALTENDERS: Flyers - Robert Esche (3-2-1, 0 SO, 3.00 GAA); Antero Niittymaki (2-0-0, 3.41). Hurricanes - Cam Ward (3-1-1, 2.53); Martin Gerber (3-1-0, 2.47).

2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Flyers, 2-1-1.

LAST MEETING: March 23, 2004; Flyers, 4-2. At Raleigh, N.C, Sean Burke, now with Tampa Bay, made 26 saves as Philadelphia eliminated the Hurricanes from playoff contention.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Flyers - 1-1-1 on the road; Hurricanes - 4-0-0 at home.