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Flyers recall Gostisbehere, Leier; Streit on LTIR

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Flyers just got younger, faster, and more interesting to watch.

They recalled winger Taylor Leier and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere from the Phantoms, and both will be in the lineup Saturday night in Carolina.

The Flyers were able to fit them under the cap because they placed defenseman Mark Streit on the long-term injured reserve list, freeing up $5.25 million in space. The Flyers announced that Streit will have groin surgery Tuesday and miss six weeks.

Streit, who will turn 38 on Dec. 11, is second on the Flyers with nine points, including three goals.

"He's a big factor for us in terms of his leadership; a very quiet leader, but extremely well-respected in our room," coach Dave Hakstol said. "Just the consummate professional who every day does the right thing. It leaves a gap there that others will have to fill in, and an opportunity for others to step in."

Such as the player they call "Ghost." Gostisbehere will be paired with Brandon Manning. Evgeny Medvedev will be a healthy scratch.

Winger R.J. Umberger, injured blocking a shot with his left foot in Winnipeg, was placed on regular IR. Umberger has no goals and four assists in 11 games.

Leier will play left wing on the third line, which will include center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare _ who missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury _ and Sam Gagner.

Surprisingly, Brayden Schenn will be a healthy scratch. He is tied with Claude Giroux for the team lead in goals (five), but he has just one goal in the last eight games, and Hakstol said he wasn't happy with his play recently.

"Things haven't gone great over the last couple of games, so he's just out for the night," said Hakstol, adding that Bellemare "adds to the locker room and adds energy and accountability in all three zones on the ice. The pace he brings wil be very important to us tonight."

Leier will make his NHL debut. The speedy 21-year-old forward had four goals and five assits in 14 games this season with Lehigh Valley. He was a fourth-round draft pick in 2012.

Gostisbehere, 22, is tied for fifth among AHL defensemen with 10 points.A third-round draft pick in 2012, he played two games (0 points, minus-2) with the Flyers last season. He missed most of the year after undergoing knee surgery.

Leier and Gostisbehere were unable to get to Raleigh in time for the morning skate, but they will arrive later in the day.

Leier "will be playing his first game and he'll probably have some nervous energy," Hakstol said."He's a real hard-working player, a tenacious player, and he'll certainly bring some energy and some speed to our lineup. And with Ghost coming in, I don't want to paint him as a replacement for Mark Streit because that's not fair. I just want Ghost to come in, do a good job, play sound, defensive two-way hockey and add a little bit offensively, because that's what he does."

Steve Mason will make his second straight start for the Flyers, who have lost eight of their last nine games.