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Flyers look ragged in loss; Neuvirth injured

    by Sam Carchidi
    Published 

The Flyers have just one more game before the real season begins, and they need a lot more work to grasp new coach Dave Hakstol's system.

They played raggedly in a 4-2 preseason loss to visiting New Jersey on Wednesday. The Flyers didn't have enough attack time and seemed out of sync in the last two periods.

"I didn't think we had a whole lot of energy, consistently through our lineup tonight,"  Hakstol said after the Flyers slipped to 3-2-1 in the preseason.

The Flyers finish the preseason Friday in New Jersey, then play their opener next Thursday in Tampa.

"Friday's important," Hakstol said. "I think there was a little dip for us tonight."

The Flyers' best player Wednesday was veteran left winger Chris Porter, who had been told he was put on waivers earlier in the day. Porter. 31, scored the Flyers' first goal. He will be sent to the AHL Phantoms if he clears waivers Thursday.

"He showed up and did his job," Hakstol said. "I think that speaks to the type of person he is."

Neuvirth injured. Curiously, the Flyers played goalie Michal Neuvirth two nights after he left the ice early during Monday's morning skate because of an undisclosed lower-body injury.

Neuvirth, the team's backup goalie, re-aggravated the injury and left Wednesday's game after allowing three goals on 18 shots through the first two periods.

He will be re-evaluated Thursday.

"We'll see how he feels and go from there," GM Ron Hextall said. "It's a day-to-day thing."

Hextall said he expected Neuvirth to be available to be Steve Mason's backup in the season opener. If not, Jason LaBarbera, 35, would be the backup. LaBarbera has played parts of 11 NHL seasons, and had a 2.61 GAA and .909 save percentage in five games with Anaheim last year.

Breakaways. Wayne Simmonds scored the Flyers' other goal, converting a Claude Giroux pass on the power play….The Flyers outhit the Devils, 37-15. Ryan White had six of the hits…Hakstol had strong words of praise for defenseman Brandon Manning, who is battling for a roster spot.