At a Glance
- Travis Konecny took the ice Monday after leaving practice Sunday when a puck hit a nerve in his knee
- Winger Bobby Brink will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury
- Defenseman Jamie Drysdale continues rehab but can’t return until Wednesday
- Why it matters: Philadelphia faces Tampa Bay again after a 7-2 loss and needs healthy bodies to avoid a second straight defeat
Travis Konecny rejoined his teammates at an optional morning skate Monday, less than 24 hours after a shot to the knee sent him limping off the ice and cast doubt on his availability for the Flyers’ rematch with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Konecny’s Quick Recovery
The 28-year-old winger absorbed a puck to a nerve in his knee during Sunday’s practice and departed in visible pain. His presence on the ice Monday offered immediate relief to a team already juggling injuries.
Head coach Rick Tocchet labeled Konecny a game-time decision for the 7 p.m. faceoff at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The Flyers have a couple of those calls to make, Tocchet said, and Konecny is very likely one of them.
Carl Grundstrom, who missed Sunday’s session with an illness, also skated Monday and falls into the same wait-and-see category.
Brink Remains Sidelined
While Konecny appears to be trending toward playing, Bobby Brink will not dress against Tampa Bay. The 24-year-old winger has sat out two games since taking a heavy hit last Tuesday in the Flyers’ 5-2 victory over Anaheim.
Brink has progressed in practice-he shed his non-contact jersey Sunday-but the staff will hold him out at least one more night. He joined the optional skate Monday morning, signaling a potential return in the near future.
Drysdale Counting Down
Jamie Drysdale continued his rehab from an upper-body injury, skating on his own Monday. The 23-year-old defenseman is not eligible to return from injured reserve until Wednesday, keeping him out of the lineup against the Lightning.
Seeking Revenge After Rout
The Flyers welcome Tampa Bay barely 48 hours after the Lightning embarrassed them 7-2 on the same ice. The game sat at 2-1 past the midway point and 3-1 after two periods before Tampa Bay erupted for four third-period goals.
The loss stung, yet Christian Dvorak insisted the effort wasn’t as lopsided as the scoreboard suggested.
“I didn’t think it was all that bad,” Dvorak said Sunday. “We gave some good Grade As to them and they have great players that are going to capitalize. We definitely need to clean some things up, we went over that today. Usually when we do that, we respond pretty well.”
Bounce-Back Track Record
Philadelphia has proven capable of answering setbacks. The club has dropped consecutive games in regulation only once this season and owns a 9-1-2 record in contests that follow a regulation loss.
“Our group shows good resolve, how to respond after losses, and that’s big,” Dvorak said. “That’s how you sustain success and make the playoffs-not going on any long losing streaks.”
Tocchet’s Keys Against Kucherov
Tocchet emphasized smarter puck management whenever Tampa Bay superstar Nikita Kucherov hops over the boards. Turnovers become instant scoring chances for the Lightning, who have ripped off nine victories in a row.
“We have the puck, we’ve got to make plays when Kucherov’s on the ice,” Tocchet said Monday. “We’ve got to make him play defense, we can’t just slap pucks around.”
Projected Lineup Questions
With Konecny and Grundstrom uncertain, Tocchet could be forced to shuffle wing pairings. The coach did not tip his hand, repeating only that final evaluations would come after warm-ups.
Brink’s continued absence removes one option, while Drysdale’s stay on injured reserve leaves the blue-line pairings unchanged from Saturday’s defeat.
Playoff Implications
Points are precious in a tightly packed Eastern Conference. Philadelphia entered Monday three points clear of the second wild-card spot with multiple games in hand on the chasing pack.
Avoiding a regulation losing streak would keep that cushion intact and maintain momentum before the schedule turns heavier later in January.
Looking Ahead
Should Konecny dress, he will likely reunite with Sean Couturier on the top line. The duo has produced offense at even strength and on the power play, a boost the Flyers lacked during the third-period collapse Saturday.
If Konecny can’t go, Tocchet must decide whether to plug in a forward from the taxi squad or double-shift a top-six winger. Either scenario increases minutes for already heavily used veterans.
Injury Roundup
- Travis Konecny – Game-time decision (knee nerve contusion)
- Bobby Brink – Out (upper-body, day-to-day)
- Jamie Drysdale – IR, eligible to return Wednesday
- Carl Grundstrom – Game-time decision (illness)
Key Takeaways
- Konecny’s quick return to the ice bodes well for his availability, yet the nerve issue could flare under game intensity
- Brink’s absence weakens forward depth, forcing others into larger roles
- Special teams will matter-Tampa Bay scored twice on the power play Saturday
- Philadelphia’s strong post-loss record suggests confidence heading into the rematch
- Limiting Kucherov’s touches remains priority one for a shorthanded defensive group
