Photo Credit: Zack Hill
Another man down, next man up has become the theme of the Flyers season thus far. They just cannot seem to catch a break with this injury riddled season. The latest Flyer to hit the shelf is Nate Thompson, as he sprained his knee last night in the 2-0 loss to the Boston Bruins. When will the bleeding stop? This is just unbelievable all the injuries this team has dealt with. At times Michael Raffl, Oskar Lindblom, Nolan Patrick, Scott Laughton, Justin Braun, Shayne Gostisbehere, Travis Konecny, Philippe Myers, and Samuel Morin were all hurt at some point throughout the course of the season. This young Flyers team reminds people of the injuries that the Philadelphia Eagles had to overcome this past season.
Connor Bunnaman returns to the big club as Thompson has hit the shelf. Bunnaman was once a sharp shooter for the Kitchener Rangers. He tallied his first NHL goal from a carom off Mark Friedman on January 14, 2020, against the Boston Bruins in a 6-5 shootout victory.
The former sharp shooter for the Kitchener Rangers in Bunnaman has tallied one goal, and one assist in 21 games played for the Flyers. He really energized the fourth line with what was his latest stint with the big club. Bunnaman has all the tools to succeed as a fourth line Center with the big club, but this injury to Thompson is the second injury to the Flyers in a matter of days, as Myers hit the shelf yesterday with a fractured patella in his right knee.
Let’s hope the Flyers can make a push for the top of the standings in the Metropolitan Division, as they face a juggernaut in the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow night. Fortunately, the injury bug is biting before the playoffs, but in the end this type of adversity can make this team destined for an extended playoff run.
Flyers Notes:
Mark Friedman was also recalled earlier in the day, and was a seventh defencemen at practice.
