Much has changed since the Penguins and Flyers last played Dec. 11 in Philadelphia.

The Penguins no longer consider flirting with .500 adequate. They've had a recent eight-game winning streak, but also a load of injuries, including a high ankle sprain that will keep leading scorer Sidney Crosby out for six to eight weeks.

The Flyers also have been winning, 10 of their past 13, and apparently have cleaned up their act after five players received suspensions for illegal hits earlier in the season.

That doesn't mean the Penguins won't be fully aware of all that transpired in that last meeting when they show up at Wachovia Center tonight. It's kind of difficult to forget an ugly, 8-2 loss to a longtime nemesis and Atlantic Division foe.

"It's a rivalry game," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said yesterday. "We do remember what happened last game there."

It was a penalty-filled game full of angst that didn't subside when the third period ended.

"It certainly was an emotional game," Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi said. "We didn't play very well. They played great. They smoked us as far as the score goes. On top of that, it was pretty physical.

"Not to take anything away from them, but we're eager to get this game going just because we've been playing well recently. It should be a good game."

Scuderi swore there was no pun intended in his choice of words, considering it was Ben Eager who encountered Therrien in a hallway after that game and said, "You're a joke." Eager was soon after traded to Chicago.

Therrien had his own criticism that night for Philadelphia coach John Stevens, who labeled the Penguins undisciplined. Therrien said there was an attempt to humiliate the Penguins when the Flyers used their top power-play unit with a five-goal lead in the third period.

The Penguins have played just four division games in the past 18 games since the Flyers debacle, yet they have climbed into solid contention for a division title. At 58 points, they are one behind leader New Jersey and one ahead of the Flyers.

That race has to come ahead of exacting payback for any anger or wounded pride in the previous game, the Penguins insist.

"Those games are going to happen every now and then," winger Ryan Malone said. "A lot of factors go into it, but the main thing is we lost. We can't think about what happened last time. The only way to have any kind of revenge would just be winning the game. Our division is so tough and every game is such a big deal that you really can't have any personal [agendas]."

That doesn't mean emotion won't spill over tonight.

One potential target for the Flyers is Penguins winger Georges Laraque, considered an elite fighter in the NHL.

"It's probably going to be a physical game like it always is," Laraque said. "I'm 260 [pounds]. I'm not worried or don't think about that stuff. I think I can handle myself.

"But mostly, it's a big divisional game. We want to win after losing, 8-2. You want to bounce back after a big loss. And it's for first place in the division."

Last season, the Penguins swept the eight-game series with the Flyers, including wins of 8-4 and 8-2.

They want to make sure the tables aren't turned in 2007-08. Philadelphia is much improved and has won the first three meetings with the Penguins by a combined 16-5.

"We haven't played one of our better games against them yet," Scuderi said. "They've certainly had our number. It's going to make winning the division tougher if we can't beat them."

Defenseman Ryan Whitney has observed that rematches after ugly games often don't produce a repeat of the extracurricular activities, but he's sure the Penguins will be prepared either way.

"It's a big game that both teams want to win," he said. "It's not like a throwaway game. Everyone's going to be ready.

"Emotion is part of the game. We want to score goals and win the game and not let them score. Whatever happens in between, I'm sure we'll stick together and be good teammates."