Flyers Could be Getting Some Help Soon

VOORHEES — For the most part, first-year NHL coach Dave Hakstol is still a mystery.

One of the patterns that has been established through 25 games is an old mantra: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The Flyers are winners of three in a row for the first time all season, so in all likelihood the lineup will remain the same when the puck drops next for the Flyers Friday against the New Jersey Devils.

For a couple of Flyers, that’s not a good thing.

R.J. Umberger is nearing a return, at least to being healthy, from a foot injury suffered Nov. 7 in Winnipeg. Ryan White, who’s almost back from a shoulder injury, has missed the last eight games. Both have had spots in the lineup when healthy… for the most part.

Umberger did sit one game as a healthy scratch Oct. 20 when the Dallas Stars came to town and Hakstol thought there was a better fit in the lineup elsewhere.

“We don’t have much of a relationship at all, but I don’t know if that’s abnormal for most guys on the team,” Umberger said. “I just try to understand my role and execute as much as I can, know the system. I always try to be a good system guy, know the system well, execute it, know that’s one thing you can count on every night. I don’t know if it’s one of those things when you talk to the coach when things are going bad. I don’t know.”