PHILADELPHIA It was hard to believe that the Philadelphia Flyers did not make the playoffs last season after the incredible season Jakub Voracek enjoyed amassing 81 points in a career year.  And you couldn’t place blame on goaltender Steve Mason who enjoyed one of his better overall seasons in bet with a 2.25 GAA and A .928 SP, which were actually better than his rookie season in Columbus when he was nominated for the Vezina trophy eventually awarded to Tim Thomas.  Part of the blame could be on Claude Giroux who had just a so-so season with 71 points.  Giroux needs to be his dominating self and post in the 90-point range for this team to be successful.  Even a patchwork defense held their own with young journeyman defenseman Michael Del Zotto and veteran Mark Streit finding their offensive games again.  So what was the reason behind such an average season?  Perhaps it was that the team just didn’t mesh with Head Coach Craig Berube.  Well, Berube is gone now and stepping into his shoes is a rookie head coach in Dave Hakstol, who implements a similar style but perhaps with a little more emphasis on speed and quicker transition.  GOALIES When a team misses the playoffs, a lot of the blame gets placed on the goaltender.  Mason had struggles early in his career after a spectacular rookie season under Ken Hitchcock in Columbus but faltered quickly in his sophomore year and just couldn’t find that magic again.  After a few average seasons as a Blue Jacket, the Flyers traded for Mason, giving up their own struggling net minder in Sergei Bobrovsky.  Mason regained his confidence with a 4-2-0 record and a 1.90 GAA and a .944 SP in his brief stretch at the end of the 2012-2013 season after being acquired.  His metrics as a Philadelphia goaltender are   2012-2015         GP       GAA     W         L          T          SP Steve Mason     119       2.36     55        38         18         .923 So you can see his numbers are a bit above average for a goaltender and if the Flyers can get that type of performance again and the team tightens up and wins more of their fair share of 1-goal games that they lost early last season, better times await.  Michal Neuvirth was brought in to back up Mason, getting a little younger in that department by letting Ray Emery walk.  Neuvirth is another underrated goaltender who does well with stopping high-percentage shots down low and will be capable to fill in if and when Mason goes down to injury.  Don't let Mason slip too far as ...

Schenn was injured in the Flyers win over the Avs on Saturday and was given a two-week timetable to return. He was on the ice prior to the Flyers practice on Tuesday and is ahead of schedule in his return.

Schenn suffered the shoulder injury on a hit from Avs' forward Nathan MacKinnon, who was ejected on the play. MacKinnon will not be suspended, but the injury to Schenn re-opens the door for Carlo Colaiacovo to return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Saturday.

Gustafsson has not played since December 21, but will replace Andrej Meszaros in the Flyers lineup today. He will be paired with Luke Schenn.

Schenn has one goal and a minus-7 rating in 12 games this season. Hal Gill will make his Flyers debut with Schenn taking a seat.

Schenn sat out the Flyers last game because of the flu but he will be back in the lineup tonight when the Flyers take on the Devils. Schenn is a solid defensive defenseman, so he is a much more useful hockey player than he is fantasy player.

Late news on Schenn being scratch. He has the flu.

Paul Simon said it best...."slip, sliding away...." Happy Birthday to Philadelphia Flyer D Luke Schenn, Boston Bruin RW Jordan Caron and Minnesota Wild C Matt Cullen! Enjoy this highlight video of Luke Schenn courtesy of TheHockeyStuff!

Schenn draws out after a notably poor game last night. He has two goals and 19 points in 64 games.

Look for Schenn to pair with Jake Gardiner tomorrow. The former 5th overall pick scored two goals and 17 points in 56 games this season.