For Flyers, Umberger, Weal are in; Laughton, Read benched

The Flyers will try to improve their attack Thursday night by adding struggling R.J. Umberger and unproven rookie Jordan Weal to their lineup against visiting Buffalo.

The two forwards have not scored a goal this season.

Coach Dave Hakstol hopes Umberger, a one-time proven scorer, is rejuvenated after sitting for the last five games. He is goal-less in his last 50 games.

Weal, acquired from Los Angeles on Jan. 6, has only played one game with the Flyers and 10 with the Kings this season.

Scott Laughton (four goals in 52 games) and Matt Read (nine goals in 51 games) will be healthy scratches Thursday.

Hakstol wouldn't get into specifics as to why he benched the two forwards.

"I'll tell you why there's lineup changes: We didn't play well the other night at home," he said of a 4-1 loss to Anaheim on Tuesday. "And I think as a team, we didn't like our overall effort, so those are the two guys that are out tonight."

Hakstol said Umberger would be with Weal and Sam Gagner. Nick Cousins will center Brayden Schenn and Michael Raffl.

The Flyers need to get more offense than they have produced during their three-game losing streak, one that general manager Ron Hextall called "unacceptable."

Umberger, 33, said it was difficult to sit out, "but in this league, you have to stay mentally ready for any moment. I think that's probably the hardest part _ not knowing from game to game if you're playing _ so you have to keep preparing the night before like you're going to play....stay in that mind frame."

"Umby's a pretty good pro; he'll be fine," Hakstol said. "He's had good workdays."

Umberger, who has six assists and is minus-1 this season, said he didn't want to complicate his return to the lineup.

"For me, I want to go out there and just have fun, and I think my instincts and nature will take over," he said.

It's been over a year since Umberger's last goal.

"When you haven't scored in so long, I think you start wondering about everything," he said. "It's something I'm not used to during my career. You have to simplify and shoot pucks. Those are things I've been trying to do. I've been getting chances. In practice, I've been trying to work on my shooting more, really focusing on scoring, working on the goalies. Those are the type of things that hopefully will carry over into the game.

"I was doing some good things (when he was in the lineup)," he added. "I was not playing a ton of minutes, so your amount of opportunities will keep shrinking. For me, I need to find a way to capitalize on those few opportunities."

Mason starting.  Goalie Steve Mason will make his sixth straight start, and Michal Neuvirth, who has been sidelined with a lower-body injury, will serve as his backup. Anthony Stolarz, a Jackson, N.J., product who has yet to play in an NHL game, will head back to the Phantoms.

Robin Lehner (2-3-1, 2.65 GAA, .926 save percentage) will start for the Sabres.

The Flyers are 0-1-1 against the sad-sack Sabres this season.

"They're a good team," Hakstol insisted. "You look through their roster and they have a lot of ability in that forward group, and they have a good mix of veterans and young guys on the back end."

The Sabres are 21-27-6 and are 12-11-3 on the road.

With 30 games left, the Flyers are six points out of a playoff spot and need to climb over five teams.

"We need to put a win together," Umberger said. "This time of year, home ice is so important and we have to take care of it."

The Flyers have more losses (14) than wins (12) at home, where they are just 12-8-6. Their home record needs to improve quickly if they are going to have any shot at sneaking into the playoffs.