Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Jeff Carter notched the first hat trick of his career and added an assist, as the Philadelphia Flyers outlasted the Toronto Maple Leafs, 8-5, in the back end of a home-and-home set at the Wachovia Center.

Danny Briere had a goal and three assists while Claude Giroux added a goal and two helpers for the Flyers, who had dropped three of four coming into the game. Marty Biron stopped 27 shots in the win.

"Obviously, we weren't happy with the last game," Carter said. "And we came out with a good start. The third period, we got away from what we were doing, gave them some chances and kind of got into a little bit of a track meet. But we got the two points, and that's what matters right now."

Philadelphia now has 94 points on the season and moved into the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Carolina. Also, the Flyers have a game in hand on the Hurricanes.

Nikolai Kulemin had a goal and two assists while Luke Schenn and Jamal Mayers each added a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who have lost three of their last four. Martin Gerber and Curtis Joseph each saw time in net, with Gerber giving up six goals on 30 shots and Joseph allowing two goals on five shots.

"They got off to a great start, and we knew that was going to happen," Mayers said. "They wanted to come out strong after the last game in our building. We couldn't weather the storm but came out better in the second period, fought our way back. In the end, we dug ourselves too deep of a hole."

On Wednesday, Ian White netted the game-winner in the second period and Joseph was solid with 32 saves to help Toronto to a 3-2 win over Philly.

The Flyers assumed a large lead in the first period, scoring five times while blanking the Leafs for the opening 20 minutes.

Randy Jones got things started, as he backhanded a loose puck into the net just 4:24 in, and Giroux made it 2-0 at the 7:48 mark when he slammed the puck in from down low.

Philadelphia made it 3-0 on the power play, as Mike Richards sent a pass from the left point to the slot where Simon Gagne kicked it from his skate to his stick and wristed the puck through a screen at the 9:02 mark to chase Gerber from the net.

Joseph, though, fared no better, as Scott Hartnell got his 30th goal of the season when his shot from the top of the left circle went off the stick of Pavel Kubina and snuck into the net with 3:37 left in the frame.

Carter completed the barrage 1 1/2 minutes later as he was sprung on a breakaway and lifted a backhand into the top of the net.

Carter notched his second goal of the game 6:48 into the second period, as he redirected a Briere pass at the left side of the net.

Toronto, though, notched three goals on three straight shots in the latter portion of the second period to cut its deficit in half.

On the power play, Schenn notched his second goal of the season, as his shot from the right point went through a screen, and Boyd Devereaux scored 1:37 later when his one-timer went past Biron's glove

Mikhail Grabovski made it a 6-3 game with 11.4 seconds left in the frame, as his turnaround slap shot beat Biron.

Carter, though, completed the hat trick 4:37 into the third period, when his shot from a sharp angle at the left side squeezed past Gerber.

Toronto got a goal back at the 7:32 mark, as Biron left a lazy rebound in front and Kulemin wristed it home.

Less than three minutes later, though, Giroux hit Briere with a perfect pass in the slot and Briere fired it home.

Toronto got a goal from Mayers with 8:21 to play to account for the final score.

Game Notes

Toronto center Christian Hanson made his NHL debut in the game. He is the son of Dave Hanson, one of the famed Hanson brothers from the movie "Slapshot"...Philadelphia plays in Ottawa on Saturday...The Leafs host the Canadiens on Saturday...Each team won twice in the season series...Toronto went 1-for-3 on the power play while Philly finished the game 1-for-5.