Wednesday afternoon, awaiting the Carter Hart update, we got a bit of foreshadowing. With the question looming over Hart’s health, the Flyers re-called Phantoms goaltender Alex Lyon. To accommodate the cap space, they also loaned forward Joel Farabee to the Phantoms.
The move makes complete sense, given Farabee’s slide in ice time recently, and the need for a backup goalie. Farabee has seen his ice time to from upwards of 16:00 against San Jose on December 28, to under 10 minutes in games against Washington and Tampa Bay.
Lyon, on the other hand, has been stellar for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season. Lyon has a not-so-stellar record of 9-11-2, much attributed to the constant state of flux the roster is in. His stats speak for themselves. He has a .916 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against average. While in the NHL, Lyon has been less-than-great.
In 13 NHL games, he holds a 4-3-1 record with a 3.27 goals against average and a save percentage of .894. Lyon was one of the eight goalies used last season in a record-breaking campaign. He’s long been a fan favorite in Lehigh Valley, but has never been able to translate that play to the NHL.
While Lyon may be up, he may not see the ice. Depending on what the update is on Carter Hart, Lyon may be sent back down as early as Thursday. Regardless, Lyon will be on the bench tonight, as the Flyers visit the defending Stanley Cup champions, the St. Louis Blues.
Puck drop is slated for 8PM EST. Follow @PhiladelphiaSN for more updates, including when the Carter Hart update is given.
Mandatory Credit – Alex McIntyre
