PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. -- A couple of the Penguins were surprised that coach Michel Therrien gave them a day off Thursday after they lost their third game in a row, 5-2, to Florida Wednesday.

Therrien said the three losses in four nights in three cities -- and four games in six nights -- were exactly why he wanted the players to have a relaxing day.

"The schedule was real demanding for us lately," he said. "I think mentally and physically for the guys, the best thing was to have a day off."

The payoff was a strong workout yesterday at the Pines Ice Arena near Fort Lauderdale before the Penguins flew to Philadelphia, where they play the Flyers this afternoon.

"I'm confident," Therrien said. "I liked the practice. The guys really worked hard. The pace was good. We needed a good practice because we play at 2 o'clock. We accomplished that."

Therrien's handling of the schedule was appreciated by the players.

"We had a tough loss [Wednesday] and a big game [today], so it was kind of nice to have a day to relax and get ready for that," said defenseman Ryan Whitney, who called the game against the Flyers a must-win."

Forsberg endures hard times

Getting captain Peter Forsberg back did little to help the Flyers, who remain last in the NHL with 26 points.

Forsberg, who has been out with a groin pull and nagging problems with his surgically repaired right ankle, had no points and was minus-1 in 21 minutes in his return as Philadelphia fell to Montreal, 4-2, Thursday night.

"If you ask me if I had a great game, I don't think I had a very good game," he told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Forsberg has had great success in his career, including two Stanley Cups and two Olympic gold medals.

This season, however, has been different.

"It's definitely frustrating, and this is the toughest part of my career," Forsberg told the Inquirer. "You wake up each morning and go to practice to face each other, and you're losing all the time."

Still, the Flyers are better with Forsberg than without. They are 0-13-3 with him out of the lineup.

Different approaches

The Penguins spent their off day in different ways.

A handful took a charter deep-sea fishing trip. They fished in water about 70 feet deep and were hoping to reel in a sailfish or shark or barracuda.

Mostly, what they caught were 8-foot waves and surges of seasickness. Although the weather was warm during their stay in south Florida, it was cloudy with winds strong enough for small-craft advisories.

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and center Sidney Crosby each caught a fish that was about a foot long, big enough to eat -- but not with the way they were feeling, said Crosby.

They were fine in time for practice yesterday.

Whitney and fellow defenseman Brooks Orpik had a low-key approach to the free day, braving the wind to visit the beach, hanging out at the hotel pool and soaking in a hot tub.

Therrien wasn't too adventurous, either.

"I took a nice walk and relaxed," he said. "And I watched some hockey games that night."

Slap shots

The full All-Star rosters will be announced around 2:45 p.m. today. Starters were announced Tuesday. ... There is a chance that Geoff Sanderson and/or Mike Richards will return today. The Flyers' forwards have missed 15 games after having abdominal surgery. ... Philadelphia sparked trade rumors Thursday by claiming goaltender Michael Leighton, 25, off waivers from Nashville.