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Flyers lose their preseason finale

NEWARK, N.J. - Unhappily, Vinny Lecavalier spent most of last season as the Flyers' fourth-line right winger and, if Friday's lineup is an indicator, he may return to that position this year.

NEWARK, N.J. - Unhappily, Vinny Lecavalier spent most of last season as the Flyers' fourth-line right winger and, if Friday's lineup is an indicator, he may return to that position this year.

"That's possible," new coach Dave Hakstol said before the Flyers ended their preseason schedule with a 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils at the mostly empty Prudential Center.

Steve Mason, coming off a 41-save gem against the Rangers, stopped 29 of 31 shots and looked ready for Thursday's opener in Tampa, Fla.

The Flyers finished 3-2-2 in the preseason, and blew late leads in two of their last three losses.

"Closing out games is something that hurt us last year, and it hurt us in the preseason," Mason said. "We have to bear down."

Hakstol rated the Flyers as just average in the preseason.

"I'd probably give us a 'C,' " he said. " We haven't been able to get a lot of rhythm here in terms of putting combinations together (because) some of the guys have been out of the lineup, but that's the reality of the game as well. You have to deal with that."

Sam Gagner, Jake Voracek and Claude Giroux (two assists) were stopped in the shootout, and Jacob Josefson connected for the Devils (3-4).

Lecavalier, used as the third-line center throughout training camp, was shifted to wing on a line with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and left winger Chris VandeVelde, a unit that was together for huge chunks of last season.

Scott Laughton, whose defense has caught the eyes of the coaches, was the third-line center and could remain there if he survives the final roster cut.

"In terms of what we've asked Scotty to do, I think he's done it," Hakstol said. "He's been very consistent."

(NU)The Flyers have to cut one more player to get down to 23. Rosters have to be finalized by Tuesday, but the Flyers could make their decision earlier.

Barring a trade, it appears the final spot will be filled by Laughton or defenseman Brandon Manning. In order to send Manning down to the AHL Phantoms, however, he would have to clear waivers.

None of the Flyers' lines generated much attack time Friday. R.J. Umberger replaced the injured Michael Raffl as the top-line left winger, with Giroux and Voracek.

Raffl should be ready for Thursday's opener Ditto center Sean Couturier, who also missed the game with an upper-body injury.

Gagner centered Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds on the second line, and Laughton was between Matt Read and Ryan White.

While killing a penalty, White gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead with 8 minutes, 57 seconds left in the second period, re-directing defenseman Evgeny Medvedev's point drive.

The Flyers managed just three shots - none during an early four-minute power play - in a scoreless first period that would have challenged an insomniac.

The Flyers had much more energy in the middle period, and Voracek (five points in five games) snapped a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal with 15:01 left in the third. The Devils tied it when Josefson scored on a backdoor play with 3:31 to go in regulation.

In the first minute of overtime, Mason stopped Josefson on a breakaway.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull