Newark, NJ (My Sportsbook) - Philadelphia Flyers forward Danny Briere played in the team's 3-0 loss Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, his first action since December 2.

Briere had missed the last 36 games with the lingering effects of a groin strain, which included exploratory surgery back on January 22. He registered just under 17 minutes of action and one shot on net in the Flyers' setback.

In 10 games this season, Briere posted five goals and nine points. He also racked up a goal and four assists in a three-game rehab assignment with the Philadelphia Phantoms in the American Hockey League before his procedure.

To make room for Briere's salary, the club recalled forward Nate Guenin from the Phantoms, while assigning forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Lasse Kukkonen to the AHL farm team.

It is the first time Guenin has been called up to the parent club this season. He has collected eight assists in 42 games for the Phantoms this season. In 11 games with the Flyers over the previous two campaigns, the 26-year-old picked up two assists.

Giroux had four goals and 11 points in 21 games for Philadelphia.

Kukkonen, who had been waived three separate times by the Flyers this season, was credited with only two assists in 22 games in 2008-09.

The roster shuffling comes as part of a set of moves over the last two days designed to bring Briere back to the lineup so that the franchise would not exceed the league-mandated salary cap.

On Friday, the Flyers had waived forward Glen Metropolit and defenseman Ossi Vaananen in anticipation of Briere's return. However, Metropolit was claimed by Montreal and Vaananen by Vancouver, and Briere did not dress for the Habs' 4-3 overtime win in Philly.

Defenseman Kimmo Timonen sat out his fourth consecutive game with the flu.