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Newcomer Gordon expected to improve the penalty kill

The Flyers are hoping newcomer Boyd Gordon can help bolster a penalty-killing unit that finished 20th out of 30 NHL teams last season.

The Flyers are hoping newcomer Boyd Gordon can help bolster a penalty-killing unit that finished 20th out of 30 NHL teams last season.

Gordon, a veteran center who was signed as a free agent, won 54 percent of his shorthanded faceoff draws in 2015-16, and he impressed coach Dave Hakstol with his defensive play at the training-camp session Saturday in Voorhees.

"I thought he was outstanding in some of those small detailed areas," said Hakstol, who liked Gordon's defensive reads and the way he took care of the puck and advanced it out of the defensive zone.

Gordon, 32, figures to play on the fourth line, either at center or wing, and be a key member of the penalty-killing unit, freeing Claude Giroux.

"I've done it my while career," Gordon said of his penalty-killing work. "Some years have been better than others, but it's something I've always taken pride in. Special teams are huge now."

Gordon may also take some five-on-five, defensive-zone draws, giving Giroux a rest.

"I think potentially he can step into that role," Hakstol said.

Stolarz's development

After being promoted from the Phantoms last season, goalie Anthony Stolarz was with the Flyers for several games as a backup but never received any playing time.

Still, it was a good experience, he said.

"I watched a lot more film up here than in the American League," he said. "For me, watching the shooters helped, seeing how smart they are. It's a lot different than playing against guys that are first-year pros. You look for tendencies in guys and take mental notes."

Stolarz said he learned from watching the Flyers goalies and opposing goaltenders such as Washington's Braden Holtby.

"You kind of incorporate some of their styles into your own game," he said.

Stolarz is eager to play in an intra-squad scrimmage at 11 a.m. Sunday in Voorhees. It is open to the public and free.

"Haven't been in one of those since the end of last year, so I'm kind of itching to get going and get structure and reps back," he said.

Michal Neuvirth hasn't returned to camp yet from the World Cup, so Stolarz could see extra action in exhibition games.

Breakaways

Before Sunday's scrimmage, a practice session will be held from 10:20 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. . . . To get ready for Sunday's scrimmage, the Flyers went through battle drills toward the end of practice. "This is where the fun starts," defenseman Radko Gudas said. . . . With World Cup participant Giroux not yet in camp, Jordan Weal has been centering Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds. . . . Travis Konecny was on a line with AHL free agents Mark Zengerle and Greg Carey.