Umberger ends goal drought in return to lineup

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

It worked.

The two forwards went into the night without a goal this season, but Umberger changed that gloomy statistic early in the second period.

Umberger thrust his arms in the air after converting a Sam Gagner pass and ending a 50-game goalless streak.

"When you haven't scored in so long, I think you start wondering about everything," he said before the game. "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."

Coach Dave Hakstol hoped Umberger, a onetime proven scorer, was rejuvenated after sitting the previous five games, and he had several good scoring chances early Thursday.

Weal, acquired from Los Angeles on Jan. 6, had played only 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) were healthy scratches.

Hakstol wouldn't get into specifics as to why he benched the two forwards. "We didn't play well the other night at home," he said, referring to Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Anaheim. "And I think as a team, we didn't like our overall effort, so those are the two guys that are out tonight."

Weal centered Umberger and Gagner.

Umberger, 33, said it had been 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."

Umberger 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.

Before Thursday, Umberger's last goal was on Jan. 27, 2015.

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

Michal Neuvirth, who had been sidelined with a lower-body injury, was Steve Mason's backup, and Anthony Stolarz was sent back to the Phantoms. . . . The Flyers alumni pledged to donate $2 million to construct a new rink (site to be determined) for the Ed Snider Youth Foundation.