Flyers raising ticket prices; Lyubimov returns to lineup

CALGARY, Alberta -- The Flyers are raising ticket prices for season-ticket holders for the 2017-18 campaign.

Shawn Tilger, the Flyers' executive vice president and chief operating officer, called it an "inflationary increase" and said it equates to $2 to $3 per game for each ticket.

"We have always been very sensitive to the overall cost of attending a game, particularly to ensuring our season-ticket members receive the most significant value," he said in a statement. "The average season- ticket member discount is about $30 off the face value of a single-game ticket per game."

Game stuff. When the Flyers play in Calgary on Wednesday night, there will be one lineup change from their last game: Roman Lyubimov will replace Dale Weise as the fourth-line left winger.

Lyubimov will be on a unit with Chris VandeVelde and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.

"Lubby's been a good fit with that line, and that line has done a very good job" coach Dave Hakstol said after Wednesday's morning skate in Calgary. "No negatives toward Dale. It's just a good opportunity for Lubby to go in there. We know that line will be a good, reliable line on the road."

Johnny Hockey praises Ghost.  Calgary left winger Johnny Gaudreau, a three-time NHL all-star, raved about Flyers' defenseman Shayne Gostsibehere and said he was one of Team North America's key players when they were World Cup teammates.

"He's smart with the puck and a skilled player," Gaudreau said. "He knows where guys are at on the ice, and the thing I like about him is he can use that skill in the defensive zone, trying to break out of the zone….He was a great player for us."

Gaudreau and Gostisbehere have both had less productive NHL seasons than they did last year.

"It's part of hockey. It's difficult at times and you learn from it," Gaudreau said. "We're both younger guys in this league and I got to play with him at the World Cup and he's a fantastic player, a great player, and a fun player to play with. And he was a great teammate."

Players go through "their ups and downs," Gaudreau said. "I'm sure he'll be great."

Gaudreau, who grew up in Carneys Point in South Jersey, said it is still special to play the Flyers.

"I love it. It's a team I grew up pretty passionate about," he said. "I loved watching the Flyers and going to their games. They still have players on their team that I was a fan of when I was growing up."

Claude Giroux is at the top of that list.

"He was a young guy coming into the system and then you see him evolve as you're growing up, too," he said. "I think he was a player that everybody in the South Jersey and Philadelphia area loved to watch. It was really cool to play against him and the Flyers the first time, and it's still special."

Gaudreau has six points in four career games against the Flyers.

Breakaways. Michal Neuvirth (2.67 GAA, .897 save percentage) will face the Flames' Brian Elliott (2.85, .895)…..The Flyers will play eight of their next 11 games on the road…..Gaudreau will again host a golf tournament in South Jersey this summer to benefit his alma mater, Gloucester Catholic High. The tourney raised close to $60,000 last year, Gaudreau said.