Flyers Notes: Lecavalier sits out again with back spasms

DETROIT - The Flyers have struggled when center Vinny Lecavalier has been out of the lineup, and he did not play again Wednesday night in Detroit.

The good news: Lecavalier was "making progress" and there is a chance he will play Saturday in Dallas, according to assistant general manager Ron Hextall.

The bad news: The back can be fickle.

Lecavalier, 33, who leads the Flyers with nine goals, missed his second straight game because of back spasms. Earlier this season, he missed four games because of other injuries.

In the first five games he missed, the Flyers were 1-4 and scored a total of six goals.

"With Vinny out, we need guys to step up," captain Claude Giroux said before the low-scoring Flyers faced the Red Wings.

Sean Couturier said the Flyers needed to fire more pucks at the net and create more traffic than they did in their 2-0 loss in Minnesota on Monday.

Couturier's offensive game has improved since space-clearing winger Steve Downie was acquired from Colorado and placed on his line.

Giroux showcased his talents for Detroit coach Mike Babcock, who will coach Team Canada in the Olympics.

"I'm aware of it, but I can't really control that kind of stuff, so I'm not too worried about it," Giroux said after the morning skate.

Flyers goalie prospect Anthony Stolarz, a second-round draft pick in 2012, was named to Team USA's World Junior preliminary roster.

The 6-foot-6 Stolarz, a 19-year-old from Jackson, N.J., is 16-3-1 with a 2.40 GAA and a .929 save percentage for London of the Ontario Hockey League.

Tony DeAngelo, a defenseman who was born in Sewell, is also on the roster. He plays for Sarnia in the OHL.

Ex-Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who won the Vezina Trophy with Columbus last season, will miss four to five weeks with a groin strain and will not be available to face his former team Dec. 19 or 21.