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If you think the approach has hurt his defensive game it hasn’t one bit.

After moving the pairings around in New Jersey, Dylan DeMelo was back with Borowiecki Friday. Nikita Zaitsev finished the game with Borowiecki while DeMelo slid up to play with Thomas Chabot.

“Last game we were screwed up and we weren’t going very good,” Smith said before the game. “It’s a good shakeup and not to say that won’t happen in time.

“DeMelo and Boro have been maybe our most solid pair defensively all year. Are you breaking one pair up and you end up screwing all your pairs up? I really like those together and in saying that I thought Zaitsev and Boro were really good as well. Probably before the end of the year we’ll tinker with everybody with everyone.”

THE LAST WORDS

After getting fired by the Rangers in April 2018, Flyers’ coach Alain Vigneault actually enjoyed being away from the game for a full season. He spent last winter in Florida playing golf and tennis while spending valued time with family and friends.

“It allowed me to fall back in love with hockey,” Vigneault said Friday . “I thought with my experience if I wanted another opportunity to coach I would probably get one. I wouldn’t have accepted any offer, the one in Philadelphia excited me.

“No doubt after 12 years as a head coach in the NHL, the year away from hockey re-energized me and I’m very happy to be in Philly. I wanted to go to a place where I could win.”

Vigneault took the Canucks and the Rangers to the Stanley Cup final during his stay in both cities. He wants the opportunity to get back and likes what GM Chuck Fletcher is doing in Philadelphia.