Mason back, will not dress

Flyers goaltender Steve Mason returned to the team this morning after being away tending to a family issue. However, he will not dress tonight when the Flyers play the Chicago Blackhawks at the Wells Fargo Center.

Jason LaBarbera, recalled from Lehigh Valley during Mason's absence, was on the ice as well this morning. He'll likely back up starting goalie Michal Neuvirth, who is coming off of a 31-save shutout Monday night.

Mason is technically not on the Flyers' roster. He was designated non-roster while on family leave. So LaBarbera's still being here does not put the Flyers at 24 players, one more than the maximum 23-man roster.

After tonight, the Flyers won't play again until Tuesday night, so it makes sense not to rush Mason back into the lineup, even just to back up Neuvirth.

Coach Dave Hakstol confirmed after practice that Mason is unavailable today and there is no timetable for when he'll be activated onto the active roster.

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R.J. Umberger remains out of the Flyers lineup. He's still considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Sam Gagner, who played in his place Monday, will be back in the lineup tonight. However, he'll be playing with a different line. Gagner took line rushes at the morning skate with Scott Laughton and Matt Read.

Wayne Simmonds moved back to his original line with Sean Couturier at center and Brayden Schenn on the wing.

"I think we've got some options there," Hakstol said. "Right now, in terms of the lines this morning, those two guys are flip-flopped. I liked what Sam did. I thought he brought a little bit of offense to the game. He played hard two-ways. But those two have a little different element, obviously. And we wanted to make that change for tonight.

"I think it makes sense in both counts.... We'll see how it goes tonight. I think there's some sensibility to putting 'Gags' on the left side right there with Laughton and Reader in terms of playmaking with that unit."

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Hakstol had this to say about following up the home opener with a game against the defending Stanley Cup champs: "I expect us to play the same way at home every night. That's the mentality of the group. I don't think it's particular to the team that's coming in here. Obviously, that's a big challenge tonight with the quality of the team that's coming in here. But that's the way we want to play every night, coming out of the gates at home."