Voracek guts it out, but listless Flyers fall

For Flyers right winger Jake Voracek, the good news was that he was able to play Wednesday night against Carolina — two nights after suffering a hand injury against the Islanders.

The bad news: The pain in the hand limited his effectiveness. He failed to register a shot for just the second time this season; the first time was Oct. 6, also against Carolina.

Coach Craig Berube thought the injury affected Voracek's stickhandling a bit.

"It's hard to say if that was back in my mind," Voracek said after the Flyers' listless 3-2 loss to visiting Carolina. "I'm not going to lie; it was a little bit trouble to hold onto the stick. I don't think it is an excuse, though. I decided to play and I've got to make sure I do the little things right. If can do the big things like I always do, I have to make sure I don't turn the puck over. I can still skate with the puck, so I don't think that's an excuse."

Voracek, who had the primary assist on Claude Giroux's second-period goal, was one of the few Flyers who showed much speed in the team's lackluster effort.

"I think we were a little … I don't want to say sleepy, but I think we were a little behind for half a game. Half a step behind," he said.

Voracek said he would play Thursday in Columbus against his former team.

"Sometimes you have to play through some injuries and just got to find a way to play responsibly and play good," he said after playing 21:06, tops among Flyers forwards. "It's something I can play with. It's a good sign."

Thursday could match the Flyers' Steve Mason against Columbus' Sergei Bobrovsky, goalies who may face their former teams. "Bob" has won eight straight, and the Blue Jackets have a seven-game winning streak, a franchise record.

Bobrovsky has never faced the Flyers. Mason scored a 5-4 win over the visiting Blue Jackets earlier this season, but did not play in a 6-3 defeat in Columbus.

If he plays, Mason said, he has gotten the sentimental aspect of the matchup out of the way. "And now it's just about a hockey game," he said.

Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.