WASHINGTON — It’s now been 16 days since Vinny Lecavalier threw on a Flyers jersey and played a game. The wait apparently will be said Sunday that the center with nine goals and five assists in 22 games won’t return from a non-displaced fracture in his lower back any time soon. Lecavalier, 33, also is dealing with back spasms.

“His treatment, he’s able to do some rehabilitation, but until the spasm goes away completely, he’s kind of limited in what he can do,” Holmgren said. “The spasms have gotten smaller. They’re more around the fracture side now. Until that goes away completely, he’s sort of limited.”

While the Flyers dropped a 5-4 shootout decision to the Capitals Sunday, Lecavalier skated back in Voorhees for the first time since an MRI revealed the fracture.

In Lecavalier’s absence, Brayden Schenn has taken over as second line center on a newly formed line with Wayne Simmonds on the right wing and Scott Hartnell on the left wing. Schenn had been playing left wing on the line when Lecavalier was healthy.

There might be an interesting decision to make whenever Lecavalier does return to the lineup, which — according to the Flyers — still is at least two weeks away.

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