Break gives Flyers a chance to learn from Hakstol

Thanks to a quirky schedule, the Flyers have a five-day break, one they hope doesn't mute the momentum gained from consecutive shutout wins over Florida and defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago.

And when they do return to action, they play on back-to-back nights.

"It is what it is," left winger Chris VandeVelde said. "We just have to go out and practice sharp, and we'll take a look at video and we'll be ready. We'll be fresh and chomping at the bit to get back at it."

The Flyers (2-1-1) had Saturday off and will return to the ice Sunday in Voorhees at 11 a.m. They will have two full practices before hosting Dallas on Tuesday and playing in Boston on Wednesday.

Right winger Wayne Simmonds said the break comes at an opportune time, giving the team a chance to grasp the nuances of new coach Dave Hakstol's system.

"We're going to settle into it and get more comfortable with it," Simmonds said.

"We're not going to have many stretches like this during the season," Hakstol said of the long layoff. "And very seldom do you have two good days of practice in a row. It's early in the year. We have a good foundation, but there's a lot of things we still want to build and improve, and we'll use Sunday and Monday to slowly address some of those."

The Flyers' challenge when they return Tuesday: avoid looking rusty, a development that occurred frequently after long layoffs last season.

"We just have to work hard in practice. Practice with a high tempo. A lot of battle drills, five-on-five drills, and game situations," center Sean Couturier said. "Everything we do out there has to be with a purpose related to the game. I think we'll be ready."

Right winger Jake Voracek said the Flyers "can't panic" if they look rusty early in Tuesday's game. "If you have five days without a game, that first 20 minutes [back], you have to make sure you pay attention to the details. Game tempo has nothing to do with practice tempo. We have to stay patient like we did the last two games and find a way to win the game. It doesn't matter how."

Breakaways. Before participating in the Flyers' Charities 5K run Saturday, Jackie Lithgow was given the team's seventh-man award by coach Dave Hakstol for his relentless spirit. Last year, Lithgow was critically injured breaking up a fight at an off-campus Bloomsburg University fraternity party. He underwent at least six skull operations and overcame meningitis and MRSA. . . . The Flyers are averaging just 1.75 goals per game (25th in the league entering Saturday) and allowing 2.50 goals per game (tied for 11th). . . . If he plays Tuesday, R.J. Umberger will try to snap a career-high 20-game goalless streak.