Mark Streit back in familiar role with 1st power play unit

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VOORHEES, N.J. -- Mark Streit’s elevation back to the first unit power play is coming sooner than expected.

Shayne Gostisbehere’s apparent right knee injury will keep him out of the Flyers’ lineup Saturday against the Islanders. That means Streit returns to anchor the first unit power play.

Streit had been on the second unit since rejoining the team on the West Coast off his six-week rehab following pubic-plate displacement surgery.

“I’ve done it for so many years, not worried about it, been a power play guy all my life,” Streit said. “Been on that unit a long time. I’ll just try to get the shots through.”

Streit was being eased back into the lineup in terms of minutes, from a low of 16:31 to 19:00 before Thursday’s game.

Once Ghost went early in the second period, coach Dave Hakstol had to rotate five defensemen the remainder of the night.

Hence, Streit’s ice time went above his 22-minute “pre-injury” average to nearly 24 minutes (23:47).

“Yeah, it’s up to the coaches and the circumstances of a losing a guy,” he said. “Everybody had to pick up the slack. I feel good. My injury feels great. My conditioning is getting better. At the same time, I still have some progress to make. I can play better, I want to play better and I need to play better.”

What Streit needs to do better is take the shots given to him, especially from the point.

Against both Montreal and Minnesota, Streit passed the puck on obvious, open shots, almost as if he was shy of pulling the trigger. Streit admits the layoff has him thinking about whether to pass or shoot. Hockey is a game of quick, instinctive reaction.

“I agree 100 percent,” Streit said. “It’s one of those things when you don’t play for a while. For me, if I get the puck and feel a guy is in better position, I pass.

“At the same time, I need to have a shot-first mentality. Get more pucks to the net and take advantage of my shot, especially from the point ... It’s a matter of having that shooter mentality again.”

There is a difference without Gostisbehere’s obvious talents on the ice from breakouts to point shots to power plays and especially in the overtimes where Ghost spends most of OT on the ice with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek.

“He’s pretty good at moving the puck, joining the rush and he finds a way to get the puck to the net,” Giroux said. “He obviously brings a lot to this team.”

Two sources said Ghost seemed “fine” on the plane. The assumption here is that his injury isn’t serious and the rookie won’t miss much playing time.

The Flyers need all the offense they can muster, especially in the midst of this 11-game stretch where 10 games are against conference opponents and the Flyers are again just three points out of the wild card.

Ghost’s absence hurts the offense right now.

“It’s an element he brings, not just in the offensive zone, but he is pretty efficient bringing the puck up ice,” Hakstol said. “That’s a big part of generating offense. Making that first pass and then getting up ice. In saying that, we got other guys who are pretty good at it, as well.”

With Streit going up to the first unit, Michael Del Zotto will anchor the second unit power play as he’s done in the past. Del Zotto scored twice against the Wild, including the game-winning goal.

“It was one of those games I felt I had some opportunities on the rush,” Del Zotto said. “A few point shots were able to get through. I was lucky enough my opportunities went in.”

Weal update
Hakstol said newcomer Jordan Weal, acquired in the Vinny Lecavalier/Luke Schenn trade with LA, needs a few practices before getting into the lineup.

“Today was his first day on the ice with our group,” Hakstol said. “We’ll consider him for the lineup tomorrow but we have the benefit of two, three days practice before our next game next Wednesday. We’ll give some consideration if that’s the best way to get him acclimated.”

Even though Weal has played center so far in his career, he could be looking at playing the wing here, possibly in R.J. Umberger’s spot. Umberger has not scored in 42 games.

Weal said he was trying to get parts of the system down and will be doing systems homework most of the weekend.

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