For the following reasons, the two best players on the Flyers were suspended::
The Winnipeg Jets game on Saturday will be without defenseman Jamie Drysdale and center Sean Couturier, according to Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere.
The 31-year-old Couturier is reportedly recovering from a minor injury, which is why he won’t be available tonight.
He participated in the entire game on Friday against the Minnesota Wild, including an almost two-minute overtime stint, so it’s unclear what the injury is or how it happened.
After being away from hockey for almost two years, Couturier has been having a breakthrough season. In 40 games, he has 10 goals, 19 assists, and 29 points. He has also been making noise regarding the Selke Trophy.
Couturier will be replaced in the starting lineup by winger Bobby Brink, who was a healthy scratch for Friday’s contest. In 36 games this season, Brink has seven goals, eleven assists, and eighteen points.
Due to illness, Drysdale, 21, will miss the game on Saturday. Though it’s probably not a major issue, it’s unclear if he will miss this particular game exclusively.
Despite a season marred by injuries, Drysdale has performed admirably since joining the Flyers, tallying 2 assists in 2 games with Philadelphia and 1 goal and 6 assists for 7 points in 12 games overall.
On Monday, he was traded to Philadelphia in a deal that sent Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks following the Flyers draft pick’s decision not to sign a contract.
Drysdale will be replaced in the lineup by defenseman Marc Staal, who has not been in the lineup for the previous four games. Staal missed a significant portion of the season because of an upper-body injury, but he has one goal and one assist for two points in 16 games.
When the Flyers take on the Jets in Winnipeg on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST, they’ll be looking to extend their winning streak to three games in a row. With a 22-14-6 record, they are currently ranked third in the Metropolitan Division.
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