While discussing his plan for the Flyers’ rugby set this weekend, Alain Vigneault joked that coaches tend to change their minds.
On Saturday, the head coach had to change his mind, as Carter Hart was unexpectedly scratched due to an injury to the lower body against the Capitals. The severity of Hart’s injury is unknown. Hart practiced Friday. The Flyers scored eight points on a playoff game on Saturday with 13 games remaining, and it is likely that the club wanted to err on the alert with its 22-year-old goalkeeper.
Alex Lyon made his first NHL start since February 1, 2020, a team of 14 and a half months without one. Brian Elliott, who is expected to start Sunday against the islanders, was Lyon’s backup.
The Flyers were also without Nolan Patrick and Tanner Laczynski. A little over three minutes into the third period of Thursday night’s game, Patrick was forced to go out and did not return after a shot hit him in the head. After the game, Vigneault said Patrick and the 22-year-old center told him everything was fine.
Patrick and Laczynski did not participate in Friday’s optional practice. Laczynski is out with an abdominal injury. He missed training camp due to his recovery from a core muscle operation out of season.
Here’s what the Flyers looked like at the Wells Fargo Center against Washington:
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