The Philadelphia Flyers announced that centre Sean Couturier could be sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Per AV: Sean Couturier (hip) received an MRI yesterday. He will take the ice for morning skate and warmups and a game-time decision will be made.
“After talking with him, he feels he should be good for tonight.” #PHIvsNYI pic.twitter.com/szFkrkm48a
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 22, 2021
Sean Couturier Game-time Decision With Lower Body Injury
Sean Couturier was an unexpected late scratch for the Flyers-Islanders game on Saturday night, with Michael Raffl taking his place in the lineup. Couturier had appeared fine during the Flyers’ previous meeting with the New York Islanders on Thursday, and even reportedly participated in the morning skate. Now, though, he will be a game-time decision with a lower-body injury for tonight’s game.
Despite having missed a few weeks early in the season with a Costochondral separation, Couturier has played excellently for the Flyers. This season, he recorded six goals and 13 assists for 19 points to go along with just four penalty minutes. Couturier’s possession numbers were 58.4 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 7.9.
Couturier has 162 goals and 259 assists for 421 career points in 665 career games. He was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, eighth overall in the 2011 NHL draft. Couturier has remained with the Flyers for the entirety of his 10-year NHL career.
What This Means for the Future
Couturier’s possible absence is a heavy blow for an already-struggling Flyers team. He’s their permanent alternate captain, as well as the centre of their first line. The most likely candidates to fill Couturier’s spot on the first line are Claude Giroux and Kevin Hayes, although Nolan Patrick could also potentially be given a shot. Regardless of who is chosen, it will be difficult to replicate the chemistry of the Farabee-Couturier-van Riemsdyk line.
The Flyers will also miss Couturier’s skill on defence. He won the league’s Selke Trophy for best defensive forward last season. Without Couturier in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Islanders, the Flyers looked noticeably shakier on the back end. They ended up allowing six goals, double the amount they let in on Thursday. The Flyers’ defence has struggled all season, and Couturier’s absence will only exacerbate the issue.
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