‘Glue guy’ Scott Laughton just might stick in his new job at wing for the Flyers

DETROIT ― Scott Laughton knocked on the wood he was leaning against.

Asked about his track record against the Detroit Red Wings, the long-tenured Flyers forward wasn’t taking any chances Wednesday, a few hours before the teams met for the second time this season (7 p.m., TNT, truTV, max).

Even before he scored four goals against Detroit last Thursday, Laughton had potted nine and gathered 15 points in 19 games against the Original Six team. He acknowledged there’s no secret to the sauce, but did confess he usually has family in attendance in Michigan, so maybe that’s what gives him a boost.

Regardless of the how or the why, the four goals — yes, two were empty-netters, but a goal is a goal on the scoresheet — gave him seven, along with 14 points this season.

What Wednesday night holds is to be determined, but the tallies are part of a new role for the grizzled veteran. An established NHL center, he was moved to wing on a line with Garnet Hathaway and Ryan Poehling on Nov. 23. Across the last 11 games, he has seven points, including those four goals against Detroit.

“I like him at wing. I think wing takes a little bit more responsibility away from him,” coach John Tortorella said. “Scotty Laughton is full of glue, right? He’s a glue guy for us. He does the stuff on the wall. He’s in important situations, taking faceoffs — not playing [center] but taking faceoffs — blocking shots, killing penalties, knowing your responsibility in managing the puck through the neutral zone.

“It’s a lot of the grind of the game that Scotty brings to us. I think he gets involved in it more on the wing. I think it’s helped him by putting him back on the wing. Scotty wants to play more minutes, as we were talking about the other night, but I think he’s in a good spot for us right now, in that kind of utility knife-type role that he has.”

Maybe Laughton’s nickname should be Elmer because he does it all and holds the team together on and off the ice.

“I think he’s a guy who’s always encouraging his teammates and he brings a good energy, and usually likes to keep it pretty light on the bench. Sometimes that’s a good thing for sure,” forward Morgan Frost said. “So just a guy you want to be around, whether you’re on the ice or off the ice. And then you look at his on-ice play, I think he plays the game the right way. He plays hard. He’s kind of a Swiss Army knife in that sense.”

A Swiss Army knife is a good way to describe the 30-year-old veteran who can play on the power play, is a key cog on the penalty kill, can be moved up and down the lineup, and can shift between center and wing — as he is doing now. Laughton has played wing before but it wasn’t as consistent as it is now. With each game, his comfort level and confidence are growing as he shifts to a role where he has more energy offensively but has different responsibilities defensively.

“It’s an easier game, but a harder game because you’re getting a lot of pucks on the wall and you’ve got to make plays off the wall, and [at] center, you’re keeping your speed throughout,” Laughton said. He said it’s less work in the Flyers’ zone at wing, but he has to deal with aggressive defensemen on the wall and stepping out to block shots.

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And it helps that he’s had a center like Poehling to ease the transition.

“I think the way he talks and communicates on the ice, especially on wall play out of your zone; I think that’s the biggest difference. Not as much skating, more time to get in on the offense,” Laughton said.

The line has had some ups and downs in the last 11 games but the trio brings energy and a strong checking presence. According to Natural Stat Trick, the line has appeared together in 15 games this season at five-on-five. Despite technically being the team’s fourth line, it has 123 shot attempts to just two more for the opposition, has outshot opponents (56.35%), has created twice as many high-danger chances (24 to 12), and has been on the ice for eight Flyers goals and six by opponents.

“I just think they play off of one another very well,” Tortorella said. “We’ve used that line before quite a bit here. It’s a good momentum line. It’s a line that gets us back in the game.”

Sam Ersson will start in net. ... Defenseman Emil Andrae continues to be a healthy scratch. He was one of a handful of skaters on the ice at Little Caesar’s Arena for the team’s optional morning skate.