The Philadelphia Flyers will play without the services of their netminder Brian Elliott for five to six weeks. He is out with a core muscle injury and recovery from a subsequent surgery. Elliott went down in the game Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes. He was hit the mask by Clayton Keller during his shootout attempt and crumpled to the ice. Elliott has been the number one goalie for the streaky Flyers this season. It is believed that he re-aggravated a groin injury. The Flyers official word is that he has a soft-tissue core muscle injury.

Brian Elliott Integral To The Flyers Success

Elliott embodies all of the success that Flyers experienced thus far in the 2017-18 season. His play in December and January picked the Flyers up from a 10 game winless streak that seemingly buried any chance of the Flyers achieving the playoffs this season. In snapping the winless streak the Flyers began a turnaround that saw the team win eight of 12 games in January. In February they continued their success, winning four of six. Playing right back into a playoff spot and third in the tough Metropolitan division.

All of the success cannot be attributed to Elliott but as some players are, he contributed to that success. His goaltending enabled the Flyers to succeed on both sides of the puck.

Team And Coach Confident In Backup Neuvirth

Michal Neuvirth will step in for Elliott as he heals. About the need for a backup Flyers coach, Dave Hakstol said Tuesday “There’s a good level of confidence in both of our guys,” he continued “And obviously it’s unfortunate that Brian is not available … But when you can have Michal Neuvirth step in and do the job that he did in Vegas and has done the majority of the season for us, it’s an area of strength. Neuvirth and the Flyers are in action against the New Jersey Devils tonight.

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