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Flyers preview: More scoring needed to make playoffs

Bounce-back seasons from Matt Read, R.J. Umberger, and Vinny Lecavalier. More production from Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn. Higher scoring from a defense that has added the offensive-minded Evgeny Medvedev.

That, general manager Ron Hextall hopes, is the blueprint for improving the Flyers attack this season, which begins Thursday night at Tampa Bay.

A year ago, despite getting great production from the Michael Raffl-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek line and second-line right winger Wayne Simmonds, the Flyers finished 21st in the 30-team NHL, averaging 2.59 goals per game.

Much more secondary scoring - and better play in even-strength situations - is needed if the Flyers are going to reach the playoffs.