The Philadelphia Flyers featured an array of different line combinations at practice on Friday, in preparation for Saturday afternoon's game against the Nashville Predators at the Wells Fargo Center. The changes included splitting up the top line duo of Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek.
The forward lines and defense pairings were as follows:
Michael Raffl - Claude Giroux - Wayne Simmonds
Matt Read - Sean Couturier - Jakub Voracek
Ryan White - Brayden Schenn - R.J. Umberger
Chris VandeVelde - Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - Zac Rinaldo
Nick Schultz - Mark Streit
Michael Del Zotto - Braydon Coburn
Nicklas Grossmann - Andrew MacDonald
Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn will be healthy scratches for Saturday's game. Schenn took reps with Carlo Colaiacovo and Kimmo Timonen. Lecavalier was mixed and matched with other forwards.
The Flyers' power play setup will remain the same, meaning that Voracek and Giroux will stay together on special teams although they will be separated at five-on-five. The two have only been on the ice together for one Flyers even-strength goal -- on Jan. 19 in Long Island -- since Christmas although they have remained potent on the power play.
"Broken up sounds pretty sad," Giroux joked.
The Flyers captain then added, "I think we had a lot of chemistry in the past and obviously this year a little bit, too. [After losing] the last few games, we'll mix it up and see what we can do better."
Flyers head coach Craig Berube said that part of his reasoning for the lineup changes is the top line has struggled for points of late, but also that Nashville and Washington present some tough matchups and spreading the team's top two offensive threats on different lines could pay dividends.
"One of us will have an easier D to play against," Voracek said. "One of us isn't going to have [to play against Shea] Weber tomorrow. That's a relief."
The last time that Simmonds received five-on-five ice time on Giroux's line this season, he was skating on his off-wing. He seemed uncomfortable, especially on rushes where he received the puck on his backhand. With the new setup, he can skate on his accustomed wing.
"It's a whole different look," said Berube.
"Obviously, it's a little bit easier to play on that [right] side but I'm happy to play wherever I am asked," said Simmonds. "Either way, I have to come to the rink and produce."
With the Flyers entering the front end of a back-to-back set and the middle game of what will be a three-in-four by Sunday, it is probable that goaltending duties will be split between Rob Zepp and Ray Emery over the weekend. Based on the fact that Zepp was one of the last players on the ice at practice and Emery left early, Emery would seem to be the more likely starter against Nashville with Zepp (who played well against the Caps in a 1-0 loss during his previous recall) going on Sunday against Washington.
Berube said that Rinaldo, who completed an eight-game NHL suspension and then sat out the last two games as a healthy scratch, has an opportunity to use his speed and aggressiveness against Nashville. The coach added, however, that Rinaldo has to understand that hits like the one on Kris Letang that got him suspended are not good hockey plays and can't happen.
Asked if there was a danger of "losing" Lecavalier for good by once again removing him from the lineup, Berube disagreed.
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FLYERS WELCOME SPECIAL GUEST, SIGN HIM TO HONORARY ONE-DAY 'CONTRACT'
Putting a major dose of perspective on the relative lack of importance of losing a hockey game on Thursday night to a bottom-dwelling team compared with much more vital struggles, the Flyers warmly welcomed a special visitor to practice today: 11-year-old Make-a-Wish Foundation child Tony Campisi of Mechanicsburg, PA.
Tony, whose wish is to meet his favorite player, Jakub Voracek, and see a game, got much more than that. He received a locker with his name on it in the Flyers' locker room (and the number 93, ala Voracek). He got to skate on the ice with the Flyers players. Later on Friday, Voracek will accompany Tony to Dave and Buster's to play some games. He even was escorted to general manager Ron Hextall's office to sign an honorary one-day Flyers contract.
Courtesy Flyers/Zack Hill
While Tony in the locker room, Voracek -- who is always incredibly generous with his time for special kids like Tony -- spent extensive time chatting with him. During the course of conversation, Tony asked him why the usually shaggy-bearded player is now clean-shaven.
"My girlfriend said she didn't like it anymore, so I shaved." Voracek joked. "No, I'm just kidding. I just wanted to shave. It'll grow back."
Courtesy Flyers/Zack Hill 
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