Photo Credit: Zack Hill
The Flyers have been battling, and trying to overcome adversity with injuries for the past month and a half or so. Each time a player comes back from IR (Injured Reserve), another one seems to hit the shelf. Carter Hart, the young phenom, is the latest to hit the shelf. Although, he has not been formally placed on IR by the Flyers, Hart will miss 2-3 weeks with an abdominal strain. Hart is being sidelined with a lower body injury, and it’s ashame for a guy that has been so darn good at home. He has compiled a 13-2-2 record at home for lords sake. Chris Stewart has also been placed on waivers.
It’s a tall task for the orange and black to overcome this type of adversity, in a positive manner night in and night out. They are overcoming long-term injuries/diagnosis sustained to Nolan Patrick, Samuel Morin, and Oskar Lindblom. One can only imagine how tough it is to overcome these injuries throughout the course of the season.
However, the show still goes on. Wednesday night is a huge game against the St. Louis Blues. The Flyers have to keep their eye on the prize, and not let these injuries dictate their season. Is it easy to do, no, but these injuries can bring this team closee together as a unit.
In Hart’s place, an all familiar face in Alex Lyon gets the call. Lyon knew what was ahead of him for this upcoming season. He knew that there was a log jam at the Goaltending position. Even with the log jam, Lyon still remained positive that he would be a force to be reckoned with, of course, with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
The 27-year-old netminder in Lyon has produced solid numbers this season for the Phantoms, as he has compiled a 2.56 GAA, and a .916 Save Percentage in 23 games played. Is he flashy? No, but Lyon gets the job done, and that’s one main reason he stays positive. Lyon told me at training camp:
“I’m trying to keep the same mindset as always, which is trying to work as hard as you can, stop as many pucks as you can. When you keep it simple like that good things happen.“
To make room for Lyon a young 19-year-old in Farabee has been sent back to the Phantoms. Do not panic Flyers fans, with Stewart being waived the intent is bring Farabee back tomorrow, after Stewart clears waivers. Drafted by the Flyers in 2018 at 14th overall. Farabee has seen action with Phantoms earlier this season, where he torched his opponents. Farabee registered three goals, to go along with one apple in four games played, before bring recalled to the Flyers. Not too shabby I must say. Moreover, Farabee became an asset for the Flyers. Yes, he only produced 12 points (3g,9a) in 37 games played, but he killed penalties, and stuck up for his teammates in the process. On Monday night against the Boston Bruins, it appeared Farabee was like Donald Brashear, as he was involved in a few scrums. The kid has a ton of grit.
The depleted Phantoms offense can use Farabee, as he does the little things well. He draws penalties, and plays solid defense. Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall for Farabee to be sent back to the Phantoms, as his ice time has decreased from 14-16 minutes per game, to around ten minutes per game. Make no mistake about it, Farabee will be back with the Flyers before you know it.
Phantoms Notes:
Very shocked Felix Sandstrom gets recalled to the Phantoms over Kirill Ustimenko. Ustimenko has been lights out, and outplayed Sandstrom this far.
Just bring Bernie back in net. Problem solved…..