Early into this 2020-21 season, and an unfortunate injury has already transpired to the Flyers with the likes of #1 Center Sean Couturier.
On Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Flyers forward Sean Couturier suffered an injury on a hit that didn’t necessarily look like an awkward play. It happened on a finished check by Penguins forward Jared McCann, as he and the Pens were very physical on the forecheck all night, finishing their checks and causing havoc for the Flyers early going of the game.
Couturier didn’t seem like he was comfortable after the hit, he was in an awkward spot and McCann rammed him. Couturier went to the bench, was pointing to his shoulder and didn’t come back after his second shift early in the first period. While playing most of Friday’s game with 11 forwards, the Flyers finished off the Pens and picked up a 5-2 victory. Travis Konecny tallied his first hat trick of his career, and Carter Hart was a rock in net while backstopping 31 of 33 shots faced.
After the game Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault said that Couturier would get an MRI tomorrow (Saturday, 1/16), and that was really the only update that was given at that moment. On Saturday, it was announced that Couturier would be out a minimum of two weeks with “Costochondral Separation”.
Here is a description of what the injury is:
So, what happens now you ask?
Well, since the NHL has changed some things this year with the rosters/lineups, having more players is beneficial for the Flyers options, especially with how deep the Flyers farm system is. Yesterday at practice, Alain Vigneault put Center Morgan Frost with Travis Konecny & Oskar Lindblom. This was probably the most obvious choice. Vigneault did think about moving Claude Giroux back to Center, but in the end he liked what he saw from the lines in the first two games of the season.
Personally, I would have liked to see Nolan Patrick get a spot up on the top line, but I think it makes sense being only two games in. Injuries are part of the game so you have to adjust, and this is where the Flyers depth comes in. Obviously, it will not be an easy task for young center Morgan Frost, as those are some big shoes to fill. Couturier does many things for this Flyers team, but I think Frost will handle his own.
It makes me think if that Giroux-Hayes-Farabee line will get slotted up to the “first line” for a few games, or if the Flyers will give Lindblom-Frost-TK the top minutes. Frost was put in a similar position last season when the Flyers wanted to mold him into a Center, putting him with Giroux & Konecny where the three of them had some really explosive chemistry. It’ll be interesting if we see any other lineup switches in the next few games. I would like to see the Flyers keep the lines together for the most part, try to get the chemistry flowing early in a shortened year. Patrick centering James van-Reimsdyk and Jakub Voracek has looked promising in the first two games and on the second Power Play Unit. I think working Frost in the mix will be great for his confidence, being able to come in and play with high end players. It is not surprising to see how he did not make the team out of camp, and this is his time to show people what he is made of (If they haven’t seen it already).
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The Flyers will look to pick up another win here tonight and on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres at home. Buffalo hasn’t won a game this year, losing their first two games at home against the Washington Capitals. Newly acquired forward (I say that like it was a week ago) Taylor Hall has been Buffalo’s leading scorer with three points in two games, (2G-1A). One thing the Flyers will need to do tonight and Tuesday is just settle the game down. A good, solid, quick start is something I’m looking for. Clean it up in your own end, move the puck up & often, quick decisions, and finish your chances. The Flyers in just two games have needed some time to get into the game in the first. They had two really bad second periods, but came up big in the third period and closed the door.
For their efforts, the Flyers have scored five goals (One empty-netter) in the third period alone, and 11 in two games played for a +6 goal differential. Carter Hart will get the nod on Monday, which was expected after such a great effort from him on Friday following a few days off. Alain Vigneault said that backup Brian Elliott will get the call on Tuesday, which gives Hart two days off (Tuesday & Wednesday) to get some rest before going on the road on Thursday to play the Boston Bruins. Lastly, here are the lines and pairings for tonight’s game:
Giroux-Hayes-Farabee
JvR-Patrick-Voracek
Lindblom-Frost-Konecny
Raffl-Laughton-NAK
Provorov-Braun
Sanheim-Myers
Hägg-Gustafsson
Hart
