Tied for the team-lead in goals with five, Brayden Schenn surely was not expecting to spend Saturday in the press box instead of being on the ice with his teammates.
But Dave Hakstol made the decision to give Schenn a night off, apparently dissatisfied with the Flyers forward and his inconsistent two-way play. The benching seemed likely to be temporary, considering Schenn’s prominent role on the team and the fact that Hakstol used similar motivational tactics on the forward in preseason, to positive results.
So it’s not surprising to see Schenn back in the lineup for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. It is surprising, however, to see him on the first line alongside stars Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek.
Schenn will replace the injured Ryan White in the lineup, but instead of directly replacing White on the fourth line, he will skate on the top line, at least to start the game. Michael Raffl will serve as White’s replacement, slotting in at left wing with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Chris VandeVelde.
Scott Laughton moves up to center the third line with Taylor Leier and Sam Gagner, while all of the other line combinations and defensive pairings remain intact from Saturday.
That means that defenseman Evgeny Medvedev will sit out yet another game. Medvedev played poorly in his return to the lineup last Thursday against the Washington Capitals, but his underlying metrics remain solid. His place in the press box remains questionable considering the fact that he has statistically outperformed a number of blueliners that remain in the lineup.
Steve Mason will get the start in goal tonight, but Michal Neuvirth will not be the backup goaltender. According to the Flyers, he is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Injury Update: G Michal Neuvirth is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Read more → https://t.co/I6HmlS0jvi
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 17, 2015
It’s unknown if this injury is related to his surprise doctor’s visit on Wednesday morning. The Flyers will likely recall Jason LaBarbera for tonight’s game to serve as Mason’s backup.
Projected Lines (via Dave Isaac)
Brayden Schenn – Claude Giroux – Jakub Voracek
Matt Read – Sean Couturier – Wayne Simmonds
Taylor Leier – Scott Laughton – Sam Gagner
Michael Raffl – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Chris VandeVelde
Michael Del Zotto – Radko Gudas
Brandon Manning – Shayne Gostisbehere
Steve Mason
Jason LaBarbera
