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Gudas to be healthy scratch for Flyers; Streit getting close to return

Philadelphia Flyers v Washington Capitals - Game Five

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 22: Radko Gudas #3 of the Philadelphia Flyers checks Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on April 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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Radko Gudas will be a healthy scratch tonight when his struggling Philadelphia Flyers host Vancouver.

Flyers coach Dave Hakstol told reporters that Gudas needs to be more consistent. The 26-year-old defenseman will presumably be replaced by Nick Schultz, who’s been a healthy scratch himself the past two games.

We perhaps should’ve seen this coming, when Gudas practiced yesterday on a pairing with Mark Streit, who hasn’t played in a month due to injury. Streit is getting close to coming off injured reserve, but he’s not expected to return until this weekend at the earliest.

The Flyers play at Boston Saturday and at Washington Sunday.

When Streit does get back into the lineup, his return will only increase the log jam on the back end -- something GM Ron Hextall will have to deal with, barring no further injuries.

From CSN Philly:

With Streit’s return, the Flyers could have a gluttony of defensemen with eight. Hextall would not tip his hand as to what his options are to comply with the salary cap, but on paper, waiving a defenseman is an option, such as Nick Schultz or Andrew MacDonald.

The Flyers are coming off a disappointing 4-1 loss to Buffalo on Tuesday. After winning 10 straight from the end of November through mid-December, they’ve gone 2-6-3 in their last 11 and are only barely hanging on to the second wild-card spot in the East.