Flyers' Raffl (surprise, surprise) looks ready to return tonight

DETROIT - In a surprising development, it appears Michael Raffl will return to the Flyers' starting lineup Wednesday night in Detroit.

Earlier in the week, Flyers GM Ron Hextall said there was an outside chance Raffl would be ready to return this weekend, but his injured right foot has healed quickly, and the left winger was on a line Scott Laughton and Wayne Simmonds at the morning skate Wednesday.

Coach Craig Berube said it will be a game-time decision, but added that if Raffl doesn't have a setback after the pre-game skate, he will be in the lineup.

"He looks fine to me," Berube said after the morning skate.

Raffl, who skated on his own last week and participated in a couple of team practices, brings speed and gritty play to the lineup against the fleet Red Wings; he had six goals in 12 games before being injured blocking a shot on Nov. 4 and missing eight games.

"I hate watching hockey. I really don't like sitting up top and watching the guys play and battle, so I'm really happy to be with the guys," Raffl said.

Raffl said walking is painful, "so it's actually nice to be in skates or the boot."

Simmonds likes what Raffl brings to the line.

"Raf plays a hard game," he said. "He's good defensively, keeps it simple and gets puck deep."

Assuming Raffl is ready, Laughton will be centering two hard-nosed wingers.

"They're two big bodies that get in on the forecheck," said Laughton, who has moved from the fourth to third to second line in five games. "They create a lot of stuff in the offensive zone, and I'm pretty excited for it."

At the time he was injured, Raffl was on the top line with Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek, and the trio had a great chemistry. Brayden Schenn has replaced Raffl, and the line hasn't skipped a beat.

"I like the way Schenn has played on that line, so I'll leave it that way for now," Berube said.

Here is tonight's probable lineup:

Mason vs. Howard.  Steve Mason, who has vaulted to eighth in the league in save percentage (.923) thanks to three straight strong performances, will face Jimmy Howard tonight.

Mason is 4-6-2 with a 2.61 GAA; Howard is 9-4-4 with a 2.09 GAA and .920 SP.

Breakaways. If Raffl plays, Luke Schenn will be scratched and the Flyers will go back to using six defensemen and 12 forwards….The Flyers will practice on Thanksgiving at 11 a.m. in Voorhees….Pavel Datsyuk will return to the Red Wings' lineup after being sidelined by a groin injury…..Berube said he wants Bellemare to be more aggressive. "He's almost too careful at times," Berube said, adding the center needs to "get more attack in his game. He needs to get to another level in terms of competitiveness and be more of a threat offensively."… Raffl called Laughton "a really smart player. I think he can be an elite player in this league."…Tonight's game is on the Comcast Sports Network at 7:30.

Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.