On the Ice With Isaac: Lecavalier Helping Fourth Line, Mason Ready to Return

GLENDALE, Ariz. – After spending two weeks as a healthy scratch, Flyers forward Vinny Lecavalier finally has a lot to smile about.

The 34 year old has three goals in his last three games and ever since the Flyers embarked on a season-long eight-game roadtrip, things have been going fine for his fourth line ... even if he did have a hold-your-breath moment in Sunday’s practice.

Lecavlier’s line with Chris VandeVelde nearly lost center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who left the ice early when he lost an edge and went hard into the boards, bruising his arm.

General manager Ron Hextall said, “he’s fine” and is expected to play when the Flyers continue their roadtrip against the Arizona Coyotes.

Bellemare seconded the notion, giving a sigh of relief to Lecavalier.

“Since we’ve been put together, it’s been going really well,” Lecavalier said, of the line formed Dec. 18 (although Zac Rinaldo was originally on the left wing instead of VandeVelde).

“We’re great on the forecheck. We make teams do turnovers, we play down low and try to protect the net. It’s been going very well. These guys are great skaters and we’ve been making plays and looking for each other. It’s been going well.”

That’s evident on the scoresheet, where ice time for Lecavalier has been north of 12 minutes in three of the last four games. He gets power play time that Bellemare, Rinaldo and VandeVelde do not, which adds to building his confidence.