Flyers coach makes lineup changes

BUFFALO - in an attempt to jump-start his team's sagging offense, rookie coach Dave Hakstol made several lineup changes in Friday's game in Buffalo.

Most noticeably, two top-line players - right winger Jake Voracek and left winger Michael Raffl - were dropped to different units.

The Flyers began the night averaging 2.11 goals per game, 25th in the 30-team NHL.

Voracek, goalless in the first nine games, was shifted to the second line, while Raffl, who also entered the night without any goals, was moved to center on the third line.

"We didn't generate enough [Thursday], and we gave up too much," Hakstol, referring to a 4-1 loss to New Jersey, said before the game. "With that in mind, we can go back to exactly what we had, or we can make some changes. The first thing we have to do is concentrate on being better without the puck."

The top line had Claude Giroux centering Matt Read and Wayne Simmonds, while Scott Laughton centered Brayden Schenn and Voracek.

Raffl centered the third line, with R.J. Umberger on the left and Sam Gagner on the right.

The fourth line had Ryan White centering left winger Chris VandeVelde and right winger Vinny Lecavalier. All three played different fourth-line spots Thursday.

"We need a four-line game tonight," Hakstol said before the opening faceoff. "We got away from that a little" Thursday.

In addition, Radko Gudas replaced defenseman Brandon Manning. Gudas was on the right side, with Evgeny Medvedev on the left. The other pairings: Nick Schultz and Luke Schenn, and Mark Streit and Michael Del Zotto.

Sean Couturier, who missed his fourth straight game Friday because of a concussion, did not make the trip to Buffalo. He skated at the Flyers' practice facility in Voorhees on Friday and will do so again on Saturday, general manager Ron Hextall said.

Hextall said no decision has been made on whether Couturier will be able to join the team for Monday's game in Vancouver. As of now, the general manager is not planning to recall any players from the Phantoms.

The Flyers have about $670,000 in cap space.

Without Couturier and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (lower-body injury), the Flyers are missing arguably their two best defensive centers.

"The number of opportunities we've given up (lately) is not going to lead to winning hockey," Hakstol said.

The Flyers had allowed an average of 37.3 shots in their previous three games.