VOORHEES, N.J. — Shock therapy.
That’s one way of looking at Flyers coach Dave Hakstol’s decision to change up his top three lines for Saturday’s pressure cooker match against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Bolts remain three points behind the Flyers, who remarkably still own the No. 2 wild card despite their 1-5-2 slump.
Saturday represents the midpoint of the season for the Flyers, as well.
“The panic button hasn’t been hit yet, but it’s coming up close here,” Matt Read observed Friday. “Losing five in a row isn’t where we want to be. We have a lot better performances to give.
“Still halfway into the season, we’re in a good spot with the playoff wild-card spot. But we've got to play a lot better and find our game.”
The biggest line change will see the reunion of Travis Konecny and Jakub Voracek together again with Sean Couturier.
They started 18 of the first 19 games this season as a line. Konecny had four goals and seven assists for 11 points over that span.
“It’s part of hockey, happens all the time, lines change,” said the 19-year-old Konecny, who’s been benched and had his ice time reduced lately. “We haven’t been playing our best hockey. We had to switch up something. It is what it is. ...
“I’m comfortable playing with these guys. I played with them before. Two good players. We complement each other.”
The other major change is Read's joining Michael Raffl and Claude Giroux on the top line. Read played with Giroux twice this season.
“One of his best attributes is he always finds a way to get open,” Read said. “It makes it easier for the wingers when you have the puck, you know he is going to be open.
“He communicates well and works hard. Just follow suit and work as hard as he is and give him the puck.”
Giroux said the line changes were necessary.
“Sometimes it’s good to switch it up a bit and see how it goes,” Giroux said.
The final line change will see Brayden Schenn centering Dale Weise and Wayne Simmonds.
“We’re halfway through the season and things are going to get tougher down the stretch,” Simmonds said. “We’ve got to be better.”
Both weekend games are pressure-filled, including Sunday’s game in Columbus, which saw its franchise-record 16-game win streak end this week by the Washington Capitals.
“Yep, it’s usually when we play our best when there is some pressure behind it,” Simmonds said. “We’ve got to get some urgency in our game, some pep in our step. We gotta get some more jump. Everyone.”
Hakstol doesn’t see this as a panic move. Really, it’s about the only thing he can do at this point after a couple of down weeks in which things haven’t gotten appreciably better since the 10-game win streak ended.
“Certainly, we’re not doing anything drastic,” Hakstol said. “The Couturier line had played very well together before. The other combinations, there’s combinations of two there. ... We feel it’s a good time to make a couple changes up front.”
Neuvirth starts?
Goaltender Michal Neuvirth appears to be Saturday’s starter against Tampa with Steve Mason going Sunday in Columbus.
Neuvirth came off the ice first while Mason took extra practice. Hakstol said he would likely use both goalies this weekend.
Neuvirth has missed 24 games with a left knee sprain. His last action was Nov. 12 against Minnesota, when he injured his knee in the first period.
“I’m 100 percent and my body feels good,” Neuvirth said. “I haven’t played in a while but I practiced well, and if I play, I’m playing with confidence.”
This game amounts to a must-win situation for Hakstol’s club given the Eastern Conference standings.
“That’s why we’re playing hockey on the big stage,” Neuvirth said. “There’s a lot of pressure on everybody. I have no problem with pressure.”
Neuvirth, who like Mason is a free agent at season’s end, said his contract situation remains far from his mind right now and his focus was to get healthy, stay healthy, and show the Flyers he’s ready to play again.
Waivers
Defenseman Mark Alt cleared waivers and will report to the Phantoms, while Roman Lyubimov returned to the Flyers late afternoon.
Trending