The Philadelphia Flyers are streaking right now. A 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals cemented a 7-game winning run for the Orange and Black, but it wasn’t all sunny for Philadelphia.
Winger James Van Riemsdyk took a wrister to the knuckle of his right hand early in the first period. He was sent to the locker room and is now expected to miss some time during a crucial run of games.
Van Riemsdyk had tallied 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points this season, making 65 appearances for the Flyers and manning their third line.
Rookie Joel Farabee will be taking his place for Thursday’s clash against Carolina as his yo-yo season continues. Farabee has 7 goals and 20 points to his name in the NHL through 49 games. He’ll join the third line with Grant and Pitlick. This is a huge opportunity for Farabee to step into the lineup and assert his presence at what is now a very important time for Vigneault’s team, proving to the Head Coach that he’s ready to be a mainstay on the roster.
Losing JVR is a tough pill to swallow. The Flyers are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and have soared up the Metropolitan conference and he’s played a key role in that. The former Maple Leaf’s 19 goals rank him fourth on the team, and his physicality on the left-hand side has really enabled a smooth integration for Derek Grant, who has 4 points in his first 3 games for the Flyers.
While it’s not clear just how long the Flyers will be without JVR, there is a chance he’ll be back for what now seems like a probable playoff run. In the meantime, the Flyers can chop and change talents like Farabee, Frost, and even Connor Bunnaman, but it will be the team’s notable first-round pick from the 2018 NHL Draft who will get his shot first.
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