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Flyers' Jake Voracek moved to another line (again)

Maybe the latest line switch will solve Jake Voracek's goal-scoring mystery.

Maybe the latest line switch will solve Jake Voracek's goal-scoring mystery.

The Flyers' 26-year-old right winger will shift to left wing Tuesday against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes.

"It's going to be a new challenge and obviously a little bit different timing," Voracek said after Monday's practice in Voorhees. "Just have to adjust to it and find a way to produce as a line."

The left-handed Voracek will play the left side on the second line, with Sean Couturier and Wayne Simmonds.

Simmonds is excited to play on a unit with the team's most gregarious player.

"Jake is Jake. He's a lovable guy and obviously you just hope the best for him," Simmonds said. ". . . He's going to score a goal and then he's probably going to score 20."

"He's one of those great players who can change a game at any time," Couturier said.

Voracek has one goal in the first 30 games. Going back to last season, he has six goals in his last 62 games - and just one in five-on-five situations.

"Something's going to get me going," he said. "It can't last for much longer."

Voracek, an all-star who finished fourth in the league with 81 points last season, will be playing on his third different line this year. Coach Dave Hakstol said it's too simple to say the latest move is an attempt to jump-start the winger.

"I think Jake's playing well," Hakstol said. "It's not an extra focus on Jake; it's about making our team a little bit better."

Voracek, goalless in his last 13 game, is second on the team in assists (15) and tied for second in points (16).

"If I get on a hot streak - let's say, five goals in six games - maybe the pressure is going to be a little off," Voracek said.

Added Voracek: "I'm not playing great, but I'm not playing that bad. I'm not playing bad to have one goal. I'm not playing great to have 10. I've been in struggles before, but obviously this is big. Just have to find a way to produce."

Early in his Flyers career, Voracek played the left side for a few games on a line with Danny Briere and Simmonds.

Voracek has played most of the season on Claude Giroux's top line; he has spent the last 10 games on Pierre-Edouard Bellemare's third line and has not scored a point while on that unit.

White moved to Voracek's third-line spot at Monday's practice, reunited with Bellemare and Chris VandeVelde. Also at practice, Matt Read - who had been the second-line left winger - was on the fourth line with Scott Laughton and R.J. Umberger.

The Flyers are 2-0 against Carolina, scoring a pair of 3-2 overtime victories. Voracek had the winner in the Nov. 14 game in Raleigh, and Shayne Gostisbehere scored in OT in the Nov. 23 home victory.

Voracek leads the Flyers with 83 shots.

"He may not be scoring goals, but the way he passes the puck is second to none," Simmonds said, mindful that Voracek finished second in the NHL with 59 assists last season.

Breakaways. Michal Neuvirth, who leads the NHL with a .939 save percentage, is expected to make his third straight start ... The Flyers are 7-4-3 since Gostisbehere was recalled from the Phantoms ... Umberger, Brandon Manning, and Radko Gudas lead the Flyers with plus-2 ratings.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull