BOSTON — An optional morning skate off a travel night following a late-night game was in order for the Flyers on Wednesday.
Assistant coaches Ian Laperriere and Joey Mullen conducted drills on the ice for those who skated.
Those were among some of the surprises Wednesday morning at TD Garden as the Flyers prepare for tonight's game against the Boston Bruins (see game notes).
Another surprise was head coach Dave Hakstol's lineup changes, which you'd figure might occur after the Flyers lost, 2-1, on Tuesday night to the Dallas Stars.
R.J. Umberger, who wanted to play last night, returns to the lineup against the Bruins while Sam Gagner is out as a healthy scratch.
Luke Schenn, who has been benched since the team's 7-1 loss in Florida, returns. Brandon Manning, who was on the ice with Michael Del Zotto for both of Dallas' goals, is out.
And as expected, goalie Michal Neuvirth returns to the net coming off consecutive shutouts last week. That was expected since Steve Mason returned to work against the Stars.
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"There's always more to it and not as simple as it looks, taking one or two guys out, (putting) one or two guys in," Hakstol said. "There's an evaluation of the game we want to play tonight. It's part of an overall performance from a previous night.
“Getting R.J. in is a good player for us coming off injury. He was good to go last night but we thought one extra day was good for him. We wanted to make sure we got him back in tonight. That’s the bulk of that decision.”
Thirteen players showed up for the skate. It’s rare to have any kind of skate on back-to-back, late-start night games.
Asked whether he was sending a message to the players to always expect the unexpected, Hakstol seemed surprised.
“Honestly, I’m not trying to keep guys off balance,” he said. “I want them comfortable knowing what is coming. Knowing what they have to do to prepare. Today is an optional skate.
“Do what you got to do to be ready to play tonight. We’ve got our meetings, those are structured. The morning skate today is do what you need to do to be ready to play at eight o’clock.”
Though the Flyers didn’t run full lines, expect Umberger to return to Scott Laughton’s unit with Brayden Schenn. Umberger would be at right wing.
“No one enjoys not playing,” Umberger said. “I think that’s the competitive nature of all of us as players. I’m anxious to get back in there and to continue to build off things I was doing before I got hurt.”
His solid play in the season-opener resulted in two Flyers goals and helped them earn a point in Tampa in an overtime loss.
As for Luke Schenn, he’s maintained a positive attitude about sitting.
“It’s not something you want to go through, but at the same time sometimes it’s out of your control a little bit,” Schenn said. “It doesn’t really change your mentality, as far as wanting to improve and get better as a player.
“I feel like I’m still a young player. Still got a ways to go in this league. Continue to work, whether you’re in or you’re out, but obviously you want a chance to play every day. There’s no question about that.”
It took the Flyers two periods to get skating with the Stars but it was predictable given their five-day layoff.
“We can play better,” Umberger said. “We know that, and it was tough not being able to help the team out.”
Hakstol is not changing his top line, even though Michael Raffl, Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek continue to struggle to find goals.
Voracek (one assist) has yet to score a goal this season; same goes for Raffl. Giroux has the only goal of the line. Coincidentally, it's carrying over to the first power-play unit, too.
After dominating the preseason, the Flyers have sunk to 20th overall in the NHL with just three power-play goals in 20 chances. The PP is 1 for 13 over the past three games.
Wayne Simmonds was a tad testy when asked about the power play after Tuesday's loss.
“There’s nothing wrong with the power play,” he said. “It’s fine. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t work. We’re getting opportunities and chances. If we weren’t getting chances there would be something to worry about.”
Hakstol said he would be more worried about his top line if they weren’t getting shots or scoring chances.
“I haven’t talked to any of them in the last 24 hours or so,” he said. “We talk regularly and look at different things. Honestly, coming off last night’s game, go back and do the same thing tonight.
“Have the same type of effort. Play the game the same way. Chances are, there will be a little different outcome in terms of the rewards they are getting.”