The Philadelphia Flyers announced that center Sean Couturier is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will not play against the Buffalo Sabres this afternoon.
Per #Flyers Head Coach Dave Hakstol, Sean Couturier will not be in the lineup at Buffalo due to a lower body injury. He is considered day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/glyEwwfCjB
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 8, 2018
Sean Couturier Injured
Couturier played in the Flyers last game, December 6th against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team has yet to specify how or when Couturier was injured.
Couturier has scored 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points to go along with four minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 55.6 percent Corsi and he has a relative Corsi of 5.6.
Over his eight-year NHL career, Couturier has only played for the Flyers. He has 111 goals and 176 assists for 287 career points in 524 career games. He was originally drafted by the Flyers in the first round, eighth overall in the 2011 NHL draft.
What This Means for the Future
Couturier is tied for the team lead in goals with Claude Giroux. Losing him will put a considerable dent in the Flyers ability to produce offense. The Flyers are 23rd in the NHL in goals for. He is also fifth on the team in Corsi For, although two of the players with a better Corsi are also centers. Couturier’s loss will impact the team’s ability to defend, but the offensive loss is a much bigger concern.
Jordan Weal is likely to take his place in the lineup. Weal hasn’t seen action since November 27th. He has three goals and seven points so far this season with a Corsi For of 55.8 percent and a relative Corsi For of 4.3.
The Flyers are seventh in their division and seven points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot. While Couturier is only day-to-day now, if his time away turns into something extensive, it will make it difficult for the Flyers to climb the standings.
PHILADELPHIA, PA: New Jersey Devils Pavel Zacha attempts to win a faceoff against Philadelphia Flyers Sean Couturier during a game on October 20, 2018 (Kate Frese/ Last Word On Hockey)
