VandeVelde a healthy scratch for Flyers

COLUMBUS, Ohio - After serving a two-game suspension for an illegal hit, Flyers winger Chris VandeVelde remained sidelined Tuesday against Columbus.

Part of a strong fourth line and penalty-killing unit, VandeVelde was a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Coach Dave Hakstol waited until after pregame warm-ups before deciding if VandeVelde would return to the lineup.

Because several players were playing well, "we have tough decisions up and down the lineup, particularly in that spot," Hakstol said. "But it's a positive for our team that we do have to make a tough decision."

With VandeVelde out of the lineup, the Flyers split a pair of 4-1 decisions, losing to Pittsburgh on Saturday and then rebounding to defeat the New York Islanders on Monday. The players on the fourth line were a collective minus-6 over those two games.

On Tuesday, Scott Laughton was the fourth-line left winger, VandeVelde's old spot, for the third straight game.

The fourth line, with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare centering VandeVelde and Ryan White, has quietly been one of the Flyers' strengths.

Hakstol said he had no plans to alternate the healthy scratches each game to give different players a rest and keep them fresh.

"There won't be any type of rotation; it'll be based on intangible factors," he said. "A lot of things come into play - health, level of play."

Brandon Manning's goal Monday was extra special.

Besides being the first tally of his NHL career, it marked the first time in franchise history that three Flyers defensemen got points on the same goal, according to the team's public-relations staff.

Andrew MacDonald, who was a career-best plus-4 in the game, and Mark Streit collected assists on the goal.

"About time someone other than Ghost broke a record," said a smiling Manning, referring to teammate Shayne Gostisbehere. "That's going to be a tough one to break."

Steve Mason started for the eighth time in the last nine games Tuesday. It marked the third time this season he had played both ends of back-to-back games.

Hakstol said he had "no concerns" over Mason playing in consecutive games. "I think he's able to do it. It's obviously not easy; we got in at 2 in the morning, but I think he's mentally ready to go in and do a good job."

Captain Nick Foligno (ill) was among Columbus' scratches. . . . Entering Tuesday, the Flyers had scored three or more goals in 10 of their last 12 games.