Philadelphia Flyers Lineup Changing Again Tonight
With the Philadelphia Flyers due to face the Buffalo Sabres tonight, their lineup will again feature some changes, possibly both up front and on defense
Between suspensions and injuries, the Philadelphia Flyers lineup has been a constant churn this season. The Flyers have barely kept the same lineup in back to back games due to suspensions and injuries, and tonight against the Buffalo Sabres will be no different.
First, there is the expected change on defense. Radko Gudas’ suspension is over, and he will return to the lineup tonight. The big question is whom he will replace.
The obvious candidates are Nick Schultz and Andrew MacDonald. Neither player played many minutes last night against the Canadiens, although Schultz did play a big role in the Flyers’ win against Carolina this weekend. Furthermore, for what it’s worth, MacDonald played nearly twice as many minutes as Schultz on the penalty kill last night. That might tip the scales in his favor to stay in the lineup.
Either way, Gudas’ return should have an effect on the Flyers. Hakstol euphemistically remarked that Gudas “obviously brings an element” to the game for the Flyers. I presume Hakstol is talking about more than Gudas’ beard.
The second change may be one up front. In a surprise, the Flyers recalled Taylor Leier from the AHL. Leier is a 22-years old forward, and was one of the last players cut from training camp. He also played 6 games for the Flyers last season, but wasn’t all that effective.
The $64,000 question that has people scrambling this afternoon is, why? The most likely scenario is another injury up front for the Flyers, although no one left last night’s game with an injury. The latest on Twitter says that Sean Couturier is a game time decision tonight, which would explain the matter.
If Leier does play in place of Couturier, this would break up what has been the Flyers best line. I’d further guess that would promote Matt Read into the top-6, and Leier would find a place on the 3rd or 4th line tonight.
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