BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Flyers held an optional skate Tuesday morning and coach Dave Hakstol indicated there will be no lineup changes as the team opens a three-game road trip against the Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Rookie forward Travis Konecny returned to the Flyers' lineup for Saturday's loss in Washington after missing nine games with knee and ankle injuries. He played on the fourth line.
Prior to his injury, Konecny spent most of his shifts on the second line, and sometimes the first, but Hakstol said he's not ready to move the 19-year-old up in the lineup yet.
"I think play will dictate that," Hakstol said. "The play of some of the guys that are in that top-nine group, so to speak, have played very well. It's a bit of a factor of how his play is and the sharpness of it. We liked the groups, the way they played in Washington. We'll make a change if and when his play dictates it."
Konecny recorded two shots on goal in 10:48 of ice time against Washington. His first two shifts were on power plays.
"Second and third period, he got more involved in the game," Hakstol said. "We don't have a whole lot of time to wait for his crispness and sharpness to come in. He's doing extra work on practice days and morning skates, so that will come back quickly for him."
Konecny was one of the last players to leave the ice Tuesday morning.
NHL
"I was just trying to do some extra stuff on my own," Konecny said. "Trying to get my hands back, get everything going again. It's been a while since I was in games."
Konecny said he is not approaching games any differently while playing on the fourth line.
"I'm playing the same game," he said. "I'm still trying to make things happen. I'm not going to change my game according to where I'm playing in the lineup."
Konecny said he is confident in the skills of linemates Chris VandeVelde and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.
"I've seen those guys both pull off some nice stuff," he said. "I'm hoping that we can get some chemistry and start feeding off each other and make some nice plays."
Playoff picture
The Flyers enter Tuesday's games sixth in the wild-card race, three points behind the Islanders for the final playoff spot. Their three opponents this week -- Buffalo, Toronto and Boston -- are all within five points of the final wild-card spot, as well.
"These three games ahead of us are really important and we need to bear down," Konecny said. "It's probably the biggest week of our season so far."
Every point is crucial, even if it comes in a loss, like Saturday's 2-1 overtime defeat against the Capitals.
"We played real well in Washington the other night and I think we need to do a lot more of the same," Hakstol said. "Everybody is disappointed to not get both [points] but we earned a good point there."
Sabres injuries
Buffalo will be without forward Kyle Okposo (ribs) for a second straight game. Okposo is second on the team with 43 points (19 goals, 24 assists). Defenseman Dmitry Kulikove (upper body) has also been ruled out.
Projected lineup
F: Jordan Weal-Claude Giroux-Wayne Simmonds
Brayden Schenn-Valtteri Filppula-Jakub Voracek
Nick Cousins-Sean Couturier-Matt Read
Chris VandeVelde-Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Travis Konecny
D: Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald
Brandon Manning-Shayne Gostisbehere
Michael Del Zotto-Radko Gudas
G: Steve Mason
Michal Neuvirth
Injured
Michael Raffl (lower body).
Scratches
Forwards Roman Lyubimov and Dale Weise, and defenseman Nick Schultz.