Lecavalier ready to move on from disappointing season

Flyers center Vinny Lecavalier is trying to erase the memory of his least-productive full season since 2001-02.

Lecavalier suffered facial and back injuries. He was switched to left wing for huge stretches. There were defensive lapses and a team-worst minus-16 rating.

At 34, he has put last season - and the summer trade talk - behind him.

"It's time to move on," he said.

In his first year with the Flyers, after signing a five-year deal for $22.5 million, Lecavalier managed 20 goals but just 37 points after 14 mostly productive seasons with Tampa Bay.

"It's easy to look back and make excuses, but whatever happened, happened," Lecavalier said before he scored one of the Flyers' four power-play goals as their split-squad team beat Washington, 5-4, Monday at the Wells Fargo Center.

"I was put on left wing and I should have been better. It was the first time I ever played that position, but at the same time, you have to try to adapt quicker. Obviously, I didn't. But now's a new year and I want to move on from last year. Right now, I'm in the middle and I'm very comfortable there. It's just more natural for me."

Lecavalier centered right winger R.J. Umberger and left winger Petr Straka on Monday. When the regular season opens in Boston on Oct. 8, there's a good chance that Michael Raffl will replace Straka on that line.

"I'd be really happy" if the line ends up that way, said Lecavalier, who has 403 career goals and will get strong Hall of Fame consideration when he retires. "I think we're three big bodies, and I think there's some chemistry there."

Lecavalier said he loves living in Haddonfield and visiting Center City. "It reminds me of Montreal," he said. He added that his back feels 100 percent this year.

"I had a great summer training. I'm motivated. I'm ready to go," Lecavalier said. "Obviously, I have to get into game shape, so it's good to play some exhibition games and get back to that level we want to be at."

In addition to Lecavalier, Mark Streit (four points) Jake Voracek (three), and Brayden Schenn had power-play goals for the Flyers. Free-agent forwards Andrew Gordon (goal, assist) and Blair Jones (two assists) also excelled in a game that had five fights.

Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Jason Peters "channeled Craig Berube" when he defended his quarterback and got into a skirmish Sunday. Said a smiling Berube: "I should have been down there on the sideline. I could have jumped in there."

In the other split-squad game, in London, Ontario, the Flyers lost to Toronto, 3-2, in a shootout. . . . The Flyers unveiled a new LED lighting system that made the ice surface look brighter - and the blue line appear purple. . . . Rookies Shayne Gostisbehere and Robert Hagg formed one of the Flyers' defensive pairs. . . . Berube coached at the Wells Fargo Center Monday, and he will go to Toronto to coach Tuesday's exhibition game. . . . Fans, apparently upset that the Ice Girls weren't working, continually booed the Ice Boys who scraped the surface during breaks.

@BroadStBull