UPDATE 5:30 PM
Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas has been suspended three games by the NHL. He is eligible to return for the Dec. 10 road game against the St. Louis Blues.
"I don't necessarily agree with the league's decision but I accept and respect it, and I'll move on from here and prepare myself for when I return," Gudas said in a statement issued by the Flyers.
If Nick Schultz (day-to-day with an upper body injury) is unavailable to play on Friday in Newark, the Flyers will be down to five available defensemen pending a roster move to call up a substitute from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
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POST-PRACTICE ROUNDUP: DECEMBER 2, 2015
Following a wee-hours return from Ottawa following a 4-2 victory over the Senators on Tuesday night, the Philadelphia Flyers held an optional practice on Wednesday at the Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ. Fourth-line forwards Scott Laughton, Nick Cousins and Colin McDonald, rehabbing forwards R.J. Umberger (foot) and Ryan White (shoulder), defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere, Brandon Manning and Nick Schultz (day-to-day with an upper-body injury) and goaltender Michal Neuvirth participated.
The Flyers are awaiting word from the NHL's Department of Player Safety on supplementary discipline for defenseman Radko Gudas after his forearm shiver or elbow to the head of Ottawa center Mika Zibanejad in the third period of Tuesday's game.
"Its a hard, fast play and we've seen a lot of them -- against our guys -- over the last few weeks here," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. "I try to stay detached from it a little bit. It's a hard hockey play in the heat of the battle. ... [Gudas] absolutely uses the body a lot, he plays hard. But that's what his nature is."
A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Gudas and Flyers general manager Ron Hextall both said they would comment after the league issued its verdict. Zibanejad left the game immediately after the hit and is listed as doubtful for Thursday's game against Chicago although he is reportedly feeling better than he did after the Gudas hit.
There is no change in the status of the Flyers' injured players. Umberger said he feels like he can play now, but that is up the medical staff and the coach when he returns. Schultz said "it's a process" to get back in the lineup. The veteran would neither rule himself out for Friday's game against the New Jersey Devils nor declare himself ready to return after missing one game
"It's nice to see them getting some success and being rewarded out there," Umberger said about the team's recent improvement, which has seen the Flyers win three games in a row and capture points in seven of the last nine games (5-2-2 record). "Now you just want to be a part of it, and enjoy some of the fun stuff that's going on on the ice."
Umberger said that he has not spoken with Hakstol about a timetable for his return, but also did not particularly see a need to discuss it with the coach.
"I don't have much of a relationship at all [with Hakstol] but, I mean, I don't know if that's normal for most guys on the team. I just try to understand my role and move on and execute as well as I can. I know the system, and I always try to be a good system guy," Umberger said.
White is awaiting medical clearance and said he has worked diligently to be available as soon as possible. The player is not sure of when he will be re-inserted in the lineup but said the team's recent winning stretch alleviates some of the pressure on rehabbing players. In terms of whether Hakstol would be inclined to make a lineup change while the team is winning, White said it was beyond his own control.
"I've done what I've done, and I'm confident in my game," White said. "If he wants to use me, he can use me. If not, that's the way it's going to be. You just have to keep working hard and be ready to go. You can't help a team when you're hurt, so you do what need to so you can make yourself available."
FLYERS ALUMNI QUICK HITS
* Flyers president Paul Holmgren celebrates his 60th birthday on Dec. 2nd. Holmgren is the only person in franchise history who has served as a player, head coach, general manager and president. He shares a birthday with former Flyers players Ron and Rich Sutter (1963), Daryl Stanley (1962) and Jiri Dopita (1968).
* Flyers Hall of fame right winger Reggie Leach is doing a series of book-signing appearances around the Delaware Valley this week to promote his recently published autobiography, "The Riverton Rifle: Shooting Straight on Hockey and Life." Leach has a remarkable life story to share. His remaining schedule of appearances are as follows:
* Wednesday, December 2nd, Barnes & Noble (Exton, PA) from 7 to 9 p.m. * Thursday, December 3rd, Sports Vault in the Moorestown (NJ) Mall from 7 to 9 p.m. * Friday, December 4th, Sports Vault in the King of Prussia (PA) Mall from 7 to 9 p.m. * Saturday, December 5th, Wells Fargo Center before and during the Flyers' game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Wells Fargo Center (7:30 p.m. game time).