Flyers Notes: Raffl racks up three assists in defeat

WASHINGTON - The Flyers' late-game collapse Sunday overshadowed the best performance of Michael Raffl's young career.

The rookie winger had a career-high three points - all on assists - in the Flyers' 5-4 shootout loss to Washington.

Raffl, 25, played on the top line, with Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek, for the second straight game. The line combined for two goals, three assists, nine shots, and a plus-seven rating in the loss.

"They did a good job; they worked hard and forechecked hard," coach Craig Berube said. "They had O-zone time and shot the puck at the net."

In his last four games, Raffl has a total of six points. He had the same number of assists Sunday (three) as he had in his first 20 games.

"He's smart and he's really strong on the puck," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "For a European guy coming over for the first time, I think he's done well, and now he's being rewarded with some points."

Vinny Lecavalier, sidelined with a non-displaced fracture in his lower back, is making slight progress and is still on target to return in two or three more weeks, Holmgren said. He said that acupuncture may be used to aid the center's rehab.

Lecavalier skated Sunday in Voorhees, the team said. The Flyers are 3-6-2 without him in the lineup.

Holmgren said defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon, who has been battling post-concussion syndrome, is "not anywhere close" to returning.

Since late October, Bourdon has been under the supervision of concussion specialist Jeffrey Kutcher at the University of Michigan.

Giroux needs two goals to reach 100 in his career. . . . Luke Schenn had a game-high six hits, and Nick Grossmann blocked four shots. . . . In franchise history, the Flyers are 25-46 in shootouts.