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Flyers' defenseman Medvedev scratched for second game in a row

After missing five games with an injury, Evgeny Medvedev did not play well in his return. He has scratched the last two games.

FOR THE second consecutive game, Evgeny Medvedev saw himself on the outside looking in at the six Flyers blue liners.

The Russian defenseman, however, didn't appear to be greatly affected by the development. He was his same jovial self walking into the locker room much later than the regulars after Tuesday's morning skate.

Medvedev, 33, returned to the Flyers' lineup for the first time Thursday after missing the previous five games. One of those games, the Flyers said Medvedev was a healthy scratch. On the team's flight from Vancouver to Edmonton earlier this month, Medvedev alerted the club that he wasn't feeling great. He returned home and was diagnosed with a concussion.

He wasn't all that great in his first game back, but he also took a hard hit at one point and was slow to get up. Still, he played nearly 20 minutes in a 5-2 loss to Washington and was used plenty on the power play. The Flyers were hopeful when they signed the former KHL defenseman this past summer that he'd turn into a solid, second-pair defenseman with strong puck-moving ability and good speed.

At times, he's been that. But like the rest of his peers, he's also struggled.

"The last couple games didn't go well for our team, but also didn't go well for him," coach Dave Hakstol said. "I talk about it all the time, the first rule of any defenseman in our group is defending well and moving the puck out of the zone well. Unfortunately, he was part of a game where we as a group didn't do it very well, and he was a part of that."

But after missing the previous five games, it's fair to say Medvedev's struggles in Thursday's loss to Washington could be partially attributed to rust.

"I'm sure that's part of it," Hakstol said of the rust factor. "It's a results-based opportunity. For our situation, that's the way we're approaching it every day. Honest approach."

Tuesday's honest approach was keeping Medvedev out of the lineup again, against the Los Angeles Kings. Hakstol said he was happy with the way the back six performed in Saturday's win at Carolina.

Part of that honest approach must operate under the adage: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Brandon Manning, who was scratched Thursday while Medvedev played, paired with Shayne Gostisbehere on Tuesday for the second game in a row.

Neuvirth sidelined

Steve Mason was one of the first three Flyers on the ice for Tuesday's morning skate. The goalie, who missed practice Monday for what the team called a "maintenance day," was taking shots down the far end - away from the bench - off the stick of defenseman Michael Del Zotto.

The net they were using is usually reserved for the goalie who's not starting. The one closer to the Flyers' bench is known as the "starter's" net.

When goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh came on the ice, he signaled to Mason to go to the other end. That's how Mason found out he was getting the start against the Kings. Dave Hakstol said after Monday's practice that his decision on a starting goaltender would come Tuesday morning.

Sometimes, Mason said, he'll know the night before.

"It was up in the air (Monday)," Mason said. "Different circumstances, but it doesn't really affect me. You prepare every single night as if you're going to be playing the games, regardless of the situation. (Monday) night was no different."

The "different circumstances" surround backup Michal Neuvirth, who practiced Monday. Neuvirth was late getting on the ice Tuesday morning. Aramark employee Justin Musciano was the second goalie on the ice for much of the morning session. Neuvirth came on and tested whatever injury is ailing him for a few minutes before leaving the ice.

The Flyers announced in the afternoon that Neuvirth is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Anthony Stolarz was recalled from Lehigh Valley to back up Mason Tuesday night. Stolarz took the roster spot vacated by Ryan White (upper-body injury), who was placed on injured reserve and will miss the next two to four weeks.

Stolarz, 21, has a 1.90 goals-against average and .930 save percentage to go with his 5-3-1 record with the AHL Phantoms. The Flyers' second-round pick in 2012 was called up a few times last season, but did not appear in a game.

Mason called himself a "routine-oriented" goalie, but said he wasn't concerned about not knowing his status until the morning.

Slap shots

Vincent Lecavalier was out of the lineup yet again as a healthy scratch . . . Longtime Flyers winger Simon Gagne was honored before the game. Gagne, 35, announced his retirement in September. He tallied 601 points in his 14-season career, which included being a member of the Kings' 2012 Stanley Cup champions.