Jake Voracek Fitting in on Left Wing

VOORHEES — If the Flyers end up making the playoffs this season, one of the pivotal moments will have come in the middle of December.

Rookie coach Dave Hakstol wasn’t too sure what to do with his unlucky star. Jake Voracek was hitting posts, hitting glass, hitting everything but the net. The right winger didn’t score until his 17th game of the season then had another 13-game drought until his next goal.

When he notched that second tally he was at a new position. Dec. 15 Voracek moved to the other side of the ice. In his first game as a left winger he had a goal and two assists.

“He’s not a good player, he’s a great player,” Hakstol said. “He’s highly competitive and he’s a great teammate. He’s been in a couple different positions and his reaction has been to go out and play as well as he can.”

Last season Voracek became the first right winger in Flyers history to be named to be named a first-team All-Star at that position. He isn’t a likely candidate for that this season as a left winger, but he’s playing much better.

He jokes that on the left side of the ice he doesn’t have to skate as much under Hakstol’s system, so he’s rested for third periods.