Christian Dvorak's minutes put Rick Tocchet on the spot

Dans Les Coulisses pointed out this morning that Christian Dvorak is playing almost 20 minutes a game for the Flyers.

That detail lands with Philadelphia 30th in the NHL at 4-10-4, carrying a -22 goal differential into Sunday's game at Calgary. When a team is that far down the standings, ice time becomes a story of its own.

Dvorak has 3 goals and 4 assists in 18 games, and he's a -3. That's a reasonable line for a depth center. It's not the kind of production that normally buys a coach's trust at the top of the minutes chart.

Matvei Michkov sits on the other side of the debate. He leads the Flyers with 10 goals, and 5 of them have come on the power play.

Michkov's -11 is the part of his ledger Rick Tocchet can point to, and it deserves a fair hearing. Nobody on this roster is defending well enough to get a pass.

Still, the Flyers have scored 39 goals all season, and Michkov has 10 of them. We already looked at Matvei Michkov's goal load for the Flyers after Thursday's loss at the Rangers.

Dans Les Coulisses framed the Dvorak number as a contrast with that scoring debate, noting that he plays almost 20 minutes a game.

Is Tocchet rewarding the right players?

Trevor Zegras has 14 points, the most of the three, and he's still closing in on a milestone. Trevor Zegras's chase for 100 goals is one of the few bright spots in a rough November.

Dvorak is a 30-year-old center with 632 NHL games behind him, and coaches lean on that kind of experience when games get loose. Tocchet may value the way he fits in a lineup, and nothing in the numbers says otherwise.

But a team scoring this little can't afford to let its best finisher sit while a 7-point player logs top-line minutes. That's a coaching choice, and it looks like a bad one on this record.

The Flyers are 1-6-1 on the road and have lost two straight. Calgary is 7-9-1 and also on a two-game skid after Friday's 5-3 loss to Anaheim, so Sunday gives Tocchet an immediate chance to answer the question with his lines.

Quick hits

CAROLINA HURRICANESPyotr Kochetkov is in the crease tonight against the Blackhawks, according to Cory Lavalette from morning skate. Simple call, and the Hurricanes will take the stability.

INJURYAnton Lundell will not play today as the Panthers visit the Capitals, and he's considered day-to-day. Florida will want him back quickly.

BOSTON BRUINSJames Hagens has been placed on injured reserve, and Mikey Eyssimont has been recalled from Providence, per Conor Ryan. A real hit for a young player trying to settle in.

MINNESOTA WILDMichael Russo reports Michael McCarron is questionable tonight against the Lightning after he didn't finish the win over the Sharks. Worth watching before puck drop.

CENTRAL RACEThe Blues visit the Predators this afternoon at 1 PM ET on NHL Network, and the Central Division standings are getting uncomfortable. St. Louis needs points here.