Philadelphia Flyers: R.J. Umberger, Sam Gagner Need To Play

The Philadelphia Flyers have been hit with some good and bad fortune lately.

On the positive note, players like Sam Gagner and R.J. Umberger have stepped up considerably, especially considering their performances last year, and have helped the team to a 3-2-1 record in the early season.

On the negative side, injuries have already abounded for the team. Brayden Schenn missed last night’s game, Sean Couturier and Michal Neuvirth left the game due to upper-body injuries and Umberger has already missed two games due to injury.

But should the team become healthy over the next few days, Umberger and Gagner need to be in the lineup.

Umberger was reported as healthy prior to the Flyers‘ Tuesday night game against the Dallas Stars, but coach Dave Hakstol decided to keep him scratched in favor of Gagner. The next night, it was supposed to be vice versa with Gagner sitting and Umberger playing.

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But Schenn’s late-time scratching opened up a spot for Gagner, and both him and Umberger delivered. And the best part for the Flyers, this wasn’t something new from the two players this season.

Umberger opened up the year with a two-assist performance against the Tampa Bay Lightning before suffering an injury early in the next game. He added another assist last night on an under-appreciated one-touch backhand pass to Wayne Simmonds to bring the Flyers within one against the Boston Bruins.

The former Columbus Blue Jacket has looked like a new man this season, playing with much more speed on the ice.

Gagner sat out the first two games of the year, but scored the pivotal first goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in his second game with the orange and black. He now has three points (2G, 1A) in four games this year.

Besides the point production, Gagner has also inserted himself on the second power-play unit, which could use some help.

And yet both players are possible scratches in the Flyers’ next game, based on Hakstol’s previous judgement calls.

Since both players are competing for the third-line role next to Scott Laughton and Matt Read, Hakstol has been forced to shift the two in and out of the lineup.

But instead of letting the two take turns, a smarter move may be benching Ryan White, who’s having a tough start to the season and hasn’t shown the same moxie as he did last year.

Oct 14, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Viktor Svedberg (43) battles with Philadelphia Flyers center Sam Gagner (89) during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare could play center, opening up a wing spot for either Umberger or Gagner on the fourth line.

The bottom line may not be perfect for either player, Umberger would fit the spot better with his defensive capabilities, but either would be better playing than sitting in the press box.

Umberger can play on the penalty kill or Gagner could play on the man advantage, which would help take care of the lack of ice time either of them would get, and would bring more to the table than White can.

If the Flyers want to keep with their above-.500 ways, playing Umberger and Gagner could prove to be a necessity.

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