Flyers' Jake Voracek still looking for a breakout game

Jake Voracek is still a productive player. Entering Tuesday, he led the Flyers with 14 assists, but the 26-year-old winger is baffled by his lack of goal scoring.

In his first 27 games before Tuesday, Voracek had a team-high 77 shots but just one goal. That's fewer goals than almost everybody on the team.

"It's going to happen sooner or later," Voracek said of a goal-scoring outburst.

A 22-goal-scorer last season who finished fourth in the NHL with 81 points, Voracek still thinks he can get 20 this year. "But I have to start scoring soon to make that happen."

Voracek hit the post in overtime during a recent game in New Jersey. When he got back to the bench, he didn't punch the sideboards or slam his stick.

"I was laughing," he said before Tuesday's game against the Islanders. "That's all you can do. I mean, even in my first year in the NHL, I've never been through such a long stretch with only one goal."

Going into Tuesday, Voracek had six goals in his last 59 games, including just one when teams were five-on-five during that span.

"I feel like I'm skating well. . . .I feel good. Just have to stay with it," Voracek said.

Voracek had six points - all on the power play - in his last seven games before Tuesday. He had not scored while on Pierre-Edouard Bellemare's line in those seven games, and there were indications Voracek will soon be back on the top line, centered by Claude Giroux.

The Shane Gostisbehere-Brandon Manning defensive pairing has been clicking. The players led the Flyers with plus-2 ratings entering Tuesday.

Coach Dave Hakstol called Manning a "good leader" who has made Gostisbehere's transition to the NHL easier.

Gostisbehere had eight points in his first 11 games since being recalled from the Phantoms.

Gostisbehere has "speed, lots of confidence," Voracek said. "He's beating a lot of people one on one, which helps the offense to create the rushes. He's been outstanding since he's been up."

Vinny Lecavalier, who has been a healthy scratch most of the season, has been bothered by a sore back and he did not take part in Tuesday's morning skate. GM Ron Hextall called it a "maintenance day." Hakstol said Lecavalier "works hard every day and he's a good teammate. It's a difficult situation for him, and I want to approach it with respect." . . . The Flyers on Tuesday started a tough stretch in which they will play three games in four nights, including matchups in St. Louis on Thursday and in Dallas on Friday.