Manning back in Flyers lineup; Del Zotto benched
ST. PAUL, Minn. - After missing five games with a shoulder injury, defenseman Brandon Manning returned to the Flyers lineup Thursday in Minnesota.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - After missing five games with a shoulder injury, defenseman Brandon Manning returned to the Flyers lineup Thursday in Minnesota.
Manning was paired with Radko Gudas because coach Dave Hakstol said he wanted a physical duo to counteract the Wild's bruising game in front of the net.
"We're playing a heavy team," Hakstol said before the game. "They've got some size up front and they're a heavy team down low. We'll need that pair to play that way and be an abrasive pair. They have to be on the heavy side, defensively."
Manning was injured March 11 in a 2-1 loss in Boston. The Bruins won it when Drew Stafford's long lob shot deflected off Manning's stick and past goalie Steve Mason with 5.6 seconds left.
That started a tailspin in which the Flyers lost four of six games and fell further behind in the playoff race.
Michael Del Zotto was a healthy scratch Thursday despite having a goal, two assists and a plus-4 rating over the last three games.
Nick Schultz, a defenseman who spent 10 years in Minnesota, faced his former team. Schultz was Minnesota's second-ever draft pick, and he ranks second in franchise history with 743 games played.
Phantoms update
The AHL's Phantoms (42-19-4) are getting closer to clinching their first playoff berth since 2009. Lehigh Valley has been aided by Travis Sanheim, who has 10 goals, 21 assists and a plus-8 rating - and is one of three rookie defensemen to play in 65 AHL games this season.
Defenseman T.J. Brennan, the pride of Moorestown, has 20 goals - tops among AHL defensemen - and leads the Phantoms with 53 points.
Center Scott Laughton, the Flyers' No. 1 selection (20th overall) in the 2012 draft, has 16 goals and 33 points in 49 games and is tied for the Lehigh Valley lead with a plus-16 rating. Left winger Danick Martel (19 goals, 37 points) also has a plus-16 rating.
Breakaways
Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn entered the night leading the NHL with 15 power-play goals apiece. . . . Mason started for the 11th time in the last 12 games . . . The Flyers took a 4-5-1 March record into the game; they haven't had a winning month since going 9-4-1 in December. . . . Sean Couturier had two goals and seven assists over his last nine games before Thursday. . . . Former Flyer Ryan White (flu) missed the game for the Wild.