Michael Del Zotto relishing new role with Flyers

NEW YORK — It just so happened that when the Flyers played back-to-back games this weekend it was against two teams that scorned Michael Del Zotto.

A younger version of the defenseman — who was traded by the New York Rangers to Nashville, where the Predators didn’t even extend a qualifying offer and let him walk as an unrestricted free agent — may have let that get to him.

At 25 he’s hardly old, but in hockey years he’s got some tread on his tires. Del Zotto has played 405 games and is in his seventh season. And the blueliner known for his offensive abilities is playing a more defensive role these days. And that’s OK with him, too.

“It’s something I’m trying to embrace. I love it,” said Del Zotto, who notched his first goal of the season Friday in his 23rd game this season. “Any time the coach shows that trust in you to play against the other teams’ top lines, I’m playing in all situations. I’m on the second power-play unit, the PK, 4-on-4. You name it I’m playing it.

“Obviously my numbers aren’t where I want them to be, but to be honest it’s not something I’m looking at or focusing on.”

Del Zotto has only five points so far this season, well below his typical output, but he’s starting to be groomed as a shut-down defenseman. The Flyers are counting on him big time, as they did in Saturday’s 3-0 win. He played 29 minutes and 20 seconds in the game, a career high for a regulation game, although that was in part due to necessity after Nick Schultz got hurt early and two other defensemen were in the penalty box.

“I think he’s really taken pride in developing into that,” head coach Dave Hakstol said. “That’s what I see. He hasn’t had a lot of offensive success, but he did (Friday) night, jumping up into the play. Those are the types of offensive plays that he’s effective at creating.”

Even before top defenseman Mark Streit went down with pubic plate surgery recently, Del Zotto was starting to play more defense-first.

“To be honest I think I just earned it,” Del Zotto said. “I’ve been working hard on my game away from the puck, playing the right way, doing the little things, checking, having good sticks and it’s something I can’t lose. I have to keep doing that every night and it’s a tough task. You see some top lines on the other teams, they can make plays and you’ve got to be smart when you’re on the ice.”

His minus-9 rating suggests Del Zotto has a lot to work on in that area, but he’s starting to get better. The advanced statistics say that Del Zotto is on the ice for more shot attempts by the Flyers than their opponents, an improvement from last season.

“He’s a competitive guy and he does have offensive ability,” Hakstol said. “That being said, there’s a role that we are asking him to play and need him to play and he’s been all in from the word, ‘go.’ There’s been a learning process, but he’s been all-in.”

As for playing the Rangers Saturday, the team that drafted him, Del Zotto’s beyond all that.

“No, we’ve played them enough times now,” Del Zotto said. “Obviously it’s a huge rivalry as far as the team goes and it’s not a big deal to be coming back here. Obviously I spent a lot of time here but I’m just focusing on what the team has to do and my job.”

‘Team tough’

Wayne Simmonds said he wasn’t even able to blink before he saw Luke Schenn drop his gloves with Dylan McIlrath after he ended Nick Schultz’s day with a hit so hard Schultz fell down when he tried to get up.

“It was huge,” Simmonds said. “You see that any time, and I think we’ve been working on that since the beginning of the year. We weren’t really sticking up for each other and Schultzy gets hit there in an unfortunate incident and Lukey’s there.”

Schenn got an instigator penalty and misconduct, forcing him to sit in the box for 18 minutes or what felt to him, “like half the game.” Forward Chris VandeVelde even took a shift at defense because the Flyers had only three defensemen for a bit.

“There’s been a few different occasions recently where guys have been sticking up for each other,” Schenn said.

“If something happens out there you have to be strong and be together. It’s not just one guy out there. It’s five guys out there on the ice trying to stick up for one another and be team tough.”

Loose pucks

The Flyers’ penalty kill has now killed off 19 consecutive penalties across the last seven games. … Saturday marked the first regulation loss in a home game for Rangers goalie Antti Raanta in his 24 game NHL career at home. …

Dave Isaac; (856) 486-2479;disaac@gannettnj.com.