Flyers Notes: Berube retools lines for Game 3

Looking to boost the offense, Flyers coach Craig Berube made significant changes for Game 3 Tuesday night against the New York Rangers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Vinny Lecavalier moved from fourth-line to second-line center, and Brayden Schenn shifted from center to left wing on the second unit.

The move pushed Michael Raffl from second-line left wing to fourth-line center.

Berube said he liked the way Lecavalier played when he moved to the second line in Sunday's third period.

"They've played together before, and they looked good to me," Berube said before Game 3.

Lecavalier played a team-low 7 minutes, 42 seconds in Game 1, then was used for 9:05 in Game 2.

Lecavalier, who turned 34 on Monday, had been on the second line most of the season - both at center and left wing - before being dropped to the fourth unit on March 28.

"It feels good" to be back, Lecavalier said after the morning skate Tuesday. "In both games, I played some shifts with them. I played a little more in the third period the last game, and I think we had some good chances."

Lecavalier, who is being paid $4.5 million this season, has not been happy with his playing time.

"I'm not used to that, but that's not my decision," he said. "I'm going out there when I'm told to go out there, and I do my best when I'm out there."

Lecavalier centered a line with Schenn and Wayne Simmonds.

"I think we have a lot of size on the line, and we have to use it," Lecavalier said.

Schenn, who entered the night with two goals (both in the same game) in his last 14 contests, took the position shift in stride.

"I've played with both of them - both at center and wing - so it shouldn't change much," Schenn said before the game. "We just want to create offense and be strong down low - and that's where we're going to generate much of our offense."

Steve Mason served as Ray Emery's backup Tuesday and played the final 7 minutes, 15 seconds, making three saves. Berube said before the game that Mason was healthy enough to play but that Emery deserved to be in the net.

"Ray's coming off a big win. . . . It's not a difficult decision," Berube said, adding that he made the decision to use Mason as the backup after conferring with the goalie and goalie coach Jeff Reese.

The fact that Mason (upper-body injury) is healthy enough to serve as the backup means he is on track to start Game 4 on Friday.

Claude Giroux took a nasty spill during the morning skate but said he was fine. . . . Rangers coach Alain Vigneault praised the play of ex-Flyer Dan Carcillo, calling him a "smart, hard player" who brings energy. Carcillo played on New York's fourth line after sitting out the first two games and scored the Rangers' final goal midway through the third period. . . . Steve Downie is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury that may be concussion-related.