After an extended break in the NHL schedule, most of the Philadelphia Flyers returned to the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, New Jersey, on Wednesday. All players not competing at the 4 Nations Face-off were present and accounted for, including newcomer Jakob Pelletier. The 23-year-old forward is eager to make his team debut with visa issues resolved during the break. “It’s tough when you don’t play for three or four weeks,” Pelletier admitted. “I feel great. I feel more rested. I feel 110%, to be honest. I’m really excited for the next game here.”
Flyers practice notes
A collection of Flyers players listed on the injury report were also skating this morning, even if they were not full participants in practice. Rasmus Ristolainen, who missed the last three games and a 4 Nations Face-Off appearance for Finland, was joined in practice by fellow blueline Egor Zamula. The Russian defenseman has been on injured reserve since 1/31 and will require a move to the active roster before he can rejoin the Flyers’ lineup.
Forwards Ryan Poehling and Owen Tippett joined in on the fun today after missing games prior to the scheduled hiatus. Poehling has missed eight games since taking a high hit from a New York Islander rookie. Meanwhile, Tippett returns after missing five contests following a hit sustained against a different division rival in New Jersey. Despite hitting the ice midweek, whether either player will be available this weekend is still unknown.
With John Tortorella still with Team USA’s coaching crew, Associate Coach Brad Shaw described a leisurely workday for the Flyers after their NHL routine was disrupted for two weeks. “Get ‘em up to pace a little bit,” Shaw said. “Touch the puck, (and) let the goalies feel some pucks. (There) wasn’t a lot of earth-shattering things. Alot of guys in non-contact jerseys, so we didn’t have a lot of physicality to the practice. At the end of the day, I thought it was pretty good.”
Shaw himself experienced some “earth-shattering” good news earlier today. “I just got (notified), my daughter gave birth to my second grandson this morning,” he excitedly told the media. “You’re not going to get the smile off my face. No name was provided yet for the newest member of the extended Flyers family.
Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim are still with their Canadian brothers, gearing up for Thursday night’s feisty 4 Nations-Face Off Final in Boston. Sam Ersson, who recorded a win for Sweden over Team USA on Tuesday, was understandably absent from the practice facility on Wednesday.
Philadelphia has two days to get back into hockey rhythm before hosting Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon. There won’t be much of a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off athletes with a Championship game on Thursday night before returning to NHL action less than 48 hours later.
Related: Flyers midseason report card: Highs and lows for Defenseman and Goalies
Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
