Flyers' Lecavalier moved to second line; Mason will back up Emery

Flyers coach Craig Berube is making a significant change for Game 3 Tuesday night against the Rangers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Vinny Lecavalier is moving to the second line at center, a move that pushes Brayden Schenn from center to left wing. Michael Raffl will shift from second-line left wing to fourth-line center.

Berube said he liked the way Lecavalier played when moved to the second line in Sunday's third period.

Lecavalier played a team-low 7:42 in Game 1, then was used for 9:05 in Game 2.

The series is tied at one win apiece.

Lecavalier, who turned 34 on Monday, had been on the second line most of the season before being dropped to the fourth unit on March 28.

"It feels good" to be back, Lecavalier said. "In both games, I played some shifts with them. I played a little more in the third period the last game, and I think we had some good chances."

Lecavalier, who is being paid $4.5 million this season, has not been happy with his playing time.

"I'm not used to that, but that's not my decision," he said. "I'm going out there when I'm told to go out there, and I do my best when I'm out there."

Lecavalier will center Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds.

"I think we have a lot of size on the line, and we have to use it," Lecavalier said.

Schenn, who has two goals in his last 14 games, took the position shift in stride.

"I've played with both of them _ both at center and wing  _ so it shouldn't change much," Schenn said before the game. "We just want to create offense and be strong down low _ and that's where we're going to generate much of our offense."

The Flyers were outshot, 69-40, heading into Game 3.

"I don't think we've put enough pucks to the net and got enough scoring chances, especially against (Henrik) Lundqvist" Schenn said. "He's a good goalie; he's going to make the first save, so we've got to get him moving, got to get traffic in front of his eyes."

Mason update.The Flyers announced that Steve Mason would back up Ray Emery on Tuesday. Berube said Mason was healthy enough to play, but that Emery deserved to be in the nets.

"Ray's coming off a big win....It's not a difficult decision," Berube said, adding he made the decision to use Mason as the backup after conferring with the goalie and goalie coach Jeff Reese.

The fact that Mason (upper-body injury) is healthy enough to serve as the backup means he is on track to start Game 4 on Friday.

"He feels better; he's ready and wants to be the backup," Berube said."...He got some good practice time yesterday and got some in New York, too."

Berube said he didn't want to look ahead to Friday's matchup and that his only concern was winning Game 3. Emery will face Henrik Lundqvist on Tuesday.

Breakaways. Claude Giorux took a nasty spill during the morning skate, but said he was fine. "Tough kid," Jake Voracek said....In 32 regular-season career games against the Rangers, Giroux has 30 points; he is still looking for his first shot in the series....Voracek has nine goals in 20 career games vs. the Rangers, including this year's playoffs....Rangers coach Alain Vigneault praised the play of ex-Flyer Dan Carcillo, calling him a "smart, hard player" who brings energy; he would not reveal whether Carcillo will play Tuesday, but all indications are that he will be on the fourth line _ and be Zac Rinaldo's "dance" partner. NY is 19-9-3 with Carcillo in its lineup.....Lundqvist said the Flyers "over the years are more confident playing in this building. We have to be ready for a physical game, a tough game."...Winger Steve Downie is still out indefinitely with an upper-body injury that may be concussion-related.

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