Flyers Canucks Hockey

Philadelphia Flyers' Michael Raffl (12) celebrates his goal on Vancouver Canucks goalie Eddie Lack (31) with teammates Wayne Simmonds (17) and Claude Giroux (28) during the second period of NHL action in Vancouver, Canada Tuesday, March. 17, 2015. (AP Photo | The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)

CALGARY — The outgoing, talkative and comedic side of Michael Raffl came out the other day after a Flyers morning skate.

All it took was someone telling the second-year Austrian forward that he is outscoring the two other current NHL players from his homeland, established scorers Tomas Vanek and Michael Grabner.

"Really?" Raffl told NJ Advance Media. "Holy hell!"

Raffl, 26, is up to 17 goals after scoring Tuesday night in the Flyers' 4-1 loss in Vancouver, almost double the nine he had last season as a rookie.

If not for his broken foot and bout with pneumonia this season, Raffl's breakout season would be even better.

"How many games did I miss?" Raffl said.

Fifteen.

"That's 15 more goals," he countered with a big smile. "Oh my God. Me and Ovie would be fighting for the title!"

Actually, 15 more would give Raffl only 32 ... 13 fewer than Alex Ovechkin, who leads the league with 45.

This bragging was all just kidding around, of course.

Raffl added more comedy while he was talking about Flyers coach Craig Berube switching him back and forth this season from left wing, his natural position, to center.

• Cousins in awe of Sedin twins in debut, impresses coach for strong effort

• WATCH: Jakub Vorarek loses it, pummels Canucks' Dan Hamhuis

"It doesn't matter for me," he said. "If he wants me at center, I'll play center. If he wants me at backup goalie, I'm going to dress as a backup goalie."

How are his goalie skills?

"Pretty good," Raffl nodded. "I'd wear one of those old-style masks ... but in black, not white."

This side of Raffl is one teammates see all the time, one that Flyers fans don't see when he's on the ice.

On the ice, Raffl probably is the Flyers' most-improved player, and he was a pretty good two-way forward last season when he scored nine goals and 22 points in 68 games.

What's gotten into Raffl this season with so many goals?

"It's his second year in the league," Berube said. "He's got a full year under his belt and he's understanding about getting to the net and scoring goals. He's done a better job this year of that and that's why he's been rewarded with (17) goals."

Raffl certainly has benefitted from frequently playing left wing with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek on the Flyers' top line, but he's played a lot of center on other lines, as well.

"We've had him on Giroux's line quite a bit, so that helps, but he's done a good job wherever I put him," Berube said. "I like him in the middle of the ice. He skates well and he understands the role."

Raffl returned to the Flyers' top line Tuesday night after playing center for five games, and in the second period he scored their only goal, a dirty one from in front of the net with Voracek in the penalty box after a fight.

"Raffl knows what to do to make us better and make our line work," Voracek said. "He's skating very well. He's battling. He wins a lot of battles, especially on the forecheck, and he drives the net a lot. It opens up the space for me and G, and I think as a line we've had a lot of open looks."

Voracek is really high on Raffl, who leads the Flyers with 16 even-strength goals.

"He's a good player," Voracek said. "He's got a solid shot. He knows how to get around that offensive zone to get in that scoring area. I called it before the season: I think one day he can be a 30-goal scorer. There's a lot of things that he needs to work on as a player, as everybody else, but he's improved big-time over last year."

Raffl, who is confident but humble, says he's not sure if he can live up to Voracek's prediction of scoring 30 someday.

"First of all, it depends on what kind of role you have on the team and who you're playing with," he said. 'I don't really know. It's hard to tell."

Raffl says he'd be content whether he's a left wing, center or continues to flip-flop.

"They're both fun," he said. "At center you're the first guy back and you play more of a defensive role in our own end. You also get the puck more, so you have to make bigger decisions than as a winger. You try to get speed and wait for the puck at the right moment."

Raffl has been hot of late playing both center and wing, as he has four goals and seven points over his last 10 games.

"Some guys don't like going back and forth," Berube said. "He could care less. Some guys like their one position, but as a coach we've got to ask a lot of our players at times to move around and play different positions for the good of the team."

Raffl, of course, enjoys playing with Voracek and Giroux because they're so gifted offensively.

"Well, you've got to put your ego aside there," he said. "It changes my game a little bit. I think it comes down to keeping it simple. Just go down there and work at loose pucks and get the puck in their hands. They're two excellent playmakers."

Playmaking is a part of Raffl's game that needs work. His point total is just 23 through 57 games because he has just six assists.

Meantime, he's contributing in other areas besides being the Flyers' fourth-leading goal scorer behind Wayne Simmonds (27), Voracek (21) and Giroux (18). He's one of their top defensive forwards and currently sports a plus-five rating is tied for third on the team.

"You get more experience," he said. "You know who you're out there against, who you're playing with and what to do."

When Raffl was asked how he views his season, there were no more jokes.

"It's been all right," he said. "It's better than it was last year. I'm pretty happy when I can get better. I try to get better all the time. It feels like I'm improving from last year."

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com Philadelphia Sports on Facebook.