It's getting tougher and tougher to justify sending him back.

Travis Konecny leads the team in scoring and, perhaps more impressive for general manager Ron Hextall, acts like he could have been sent back to Sarnia, Ontario yesterday.

"I just came in (to camp) with the mindset of making the team," the 2015 first-round pick said. "I never thought about if I belonged or not. I just thought I was going to give it my best shot and hopefully I can keep it going."

His best shot was third of four. It went right by a world-class goalie in Henrik Lundqvist, the face of the New York Rangers' franchise. Konecny leads the Flyers with six points after his goal and secondary assist on the goal that tied the Flyers at 2-2. When he scored the goal he was with different linemates, Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek. They'd been together in games past when it looked like Konecny was getting a look in a second-line role.

For the first two periods Thursday he was with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Dale Weise in a third-line capacity. If the impressive rookie makes the squad, a checking-line role may not be enough.

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