Philadelphia Flyers

Ray Emery's quick start to the season has attracted a lot of interest throughout the NHL, and among the intrigued are Team Canada managers Steve Yzerman and Kevin Lowe. Both were in attendance for Friday night's game between the Flyers and Sharks, but Emery did not account well for himself, allowing all six goals in a 6-3 defeat.

Emery has garnered some Olympic consideration because of his 11-5-1 start, but with Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo in the mix, he might only be in the running as a backup.

However, Flyers centers Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are pushing hard for spots, and defenseman Chris Pronger is a lock to be on the Canadians' blue line. Carter, who admits playing in the Olympics has been "in the back of my mind" all season, picked an inopportune time to have a bad game. He was a minus-2 and took two bad penalties in the Flyers' loss.

Other Olympic hopefuls for the Flyers are defenseman Matt Carle and left winger James van Riemsdyk (USA), defenseman Kimmo Timonen and right wing Mika Pyorala (Finland), and defenseman Oskars Bartulis (Latvia),

SHARKS 6, FLYERS 3: It's been 10 years since the Flyers beat the Sharks in San Jose and if the Flyers continue to play against them the way they did Friday night it might be another 10 years. The Flyers allowed two power-play goals and saw their No. 1-ranked power play blanked on three man-advantages as they allowed six goals for the first time all season. Goaltender Ray Emery looked sharp early in his first career start against the Sharks but could not withstand a third-period barrage that resulted in three goals and Dany Heatley's hat trick.

• The Flyers scored the first goal of the game for the 15th time in 19 games, but fell to 11-3-1 this season when scoring first.

• The Flyers will turn around and play the Coyotes in Phoenix at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, just 19 hours, 30 minutes after completing their Friday night game in San Jose.

• The Flyers' surrendered a tie-breaking goal with 4.9 seconds remaining in the second period against the Sharks and are now 0-6-0 when trailing after two periods.

• The Flyers rank first in the NHL in points by their defenseman with 60.

• The Flyers are winless in San Jose since Nov. 15, 1999. Sharks winger Dany Heatley has 28 points (18 goals, 10 assists) in 28 career games against the Flyers as a Thrasher, Senator and Shark.

Quote To Note:

"I kind of let my play speak for itself. Maybe they will think I can bring something to the table that would help the team in Vancouver. You want to play for your country on a stage like that in Canada. It's a pretty unbelievable atmosphere… I know it's a longshot."

Goaltenders:

Ray Emery, Brian Boucher.

Defensemen:

Matt Carle, Chris Pronger, Braydon Coburn, Kimmo Timonen, Ryan Parent, Oskars Bartulis.

First Line:

LW James van Riemsdyk, C Jeff Carter, RW Danny Briere.

Second Line:

LW Scott Hartnell, C Mike Richards, RW Mika Pyorala.

Third Line:

LW Darroll Powe, C Claude Giroux, RW David Laliberte.

Fourth Line:

LW Dan Carcillo, C Blair Betts, RW Ian Laperriere

Player Notes:

• Rookie LW James van Riemsdyk has scored the game-winning goal in each of the Flyers' last three victories.

• D Matt Carle has recorded assists in two consecutive games following a six-game scoreless streak.

• RW Danny Briere scored his third goal in five games since returning from a groin injury.

• The Flyers won just 39 percent of their faceoffs against the Sharks. Jeff Carter won just six of 23 draws and Blair Betts won six of 17.

Medical Watch:

• RW Arron Asham (strained left oblique muscle, 7-10 days); LW Simon Gagne (hernia, 4-6 weeks).