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‘It’s very hard to take': Lecavalier to be healthy scratched for first time

New Jersey Devils v Philadelphia Flyers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 09: Vincent Lecavalier #40 of the Philadelphia Flyers enters the ice surface for pregame warm-up prior to his game against the New Jersey Devils on October 9, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

Yesterday, Flyers owner Ed Snider lamented his club’s lack of secondary scoring by calling out a number of forwards -- including Vincent Lecavalier.

Shortly thereafter, Lecavalier took another hit.

The former Rocket Richard winner learned he’d be parked as a healthy scratch on Tuesday when the Flyers take on the Sharks in San Jose, per the Daily News.

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The fact that Lecavalier would be a healthy scratch for the first time in his illustrious career really hit him yesterday, though, when he saw his name penciled next to injured player Ryan White on the fifth line for practice at SAP Center.

“It’s very hard to take,” Lecavalier said. “It was a tough night, when you’re told something like that. I talked to [coach Craig Berube]. We had a conversation, but I’m out of the lineup. It’s as simple as that.”

Lecavalier has never been in Berube’s good graces, so there’s little surprise he’s the one receiving a message while the team’s in a tailspin (1-7-1 in their last nine). And Lecavalier has earned this scratch on his own merits: Goalless in 12 games, with just one point in the last nine.

That said, and as Snider alluded to, he’s not the only secondary scorer struggling to produce. Matt Read has one goal in his last 16 games, Sean Couturier has one point in his last 10 and Wayne Simmonds, who started the year on fire with six goals in his first 10 games, has just two in his last 13.

Regardless, it’s Lecavalier that’ll sit tonight at SAP.

“I think it’s a competitive thing with him,” Berube explained. “I just don’t see enough of it out there. I’ve got to see more.

“Guys that are playing in the lineup need to find urgency quicker. That’s their job. We definitely need to play with more urgency, and we need to play with more structure in our game.”