The red-hot Philadelphia Flyers are in the midst of what one would consider an unsustainable trend as they are winning games despite losing bodies. With a spate of injuries lining their roster, the Flyers likely will turn to new acquisition Petr Mrazek on Thursday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Mrazek was acquired from Detroit for a pair of conditional draft picks after Michal Neuvirth joined fellow goaltender Brian Elliott among the walking wounded for Philadelphia, which has overcome injuries to win three in a row and post a 7-0-2 mark in its last nine. Jakub Voracek scored late in the third period and again in overtime to cap his three-point performance in Tuesday's 3-2 win over reeling Montreal, increasing his point total to 15 (five goals, 10 assists) in his past 13 games. Voracek has been held off the scoresheet in both encounters versus his former team, however, with the Metropolitan Division rivals splitting a pair of 2-1 decisions that ventured past regulation. Columbus also claimed a 2-1 decision at New Jersey on Tuesday, snapping a three-game skid despite being outshot 20-6 over the final two periods.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (30-25-5): Former Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky rebounded from a five-goal performance versus Pittsburgh on Sunday to turn aside 30 shots versus the Devils. "You just have to move, let it go, relax and forget about it," the two-time Vezina Trophy winner said. "It's a long process. You learn things over the season. You learn about yourself in this game, as well, and that's just how it goes. It's a long process, and it ends only when I retire." While Bobrovsky will be in the lineup Thursday, Nick Foligno will not as the captain is expected to miss one to two weeks with a lower-body injury sustained against the Penguins.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (31-19-10): After being besieged by bad news on the injury front of late, Philadelphia actually received some good news on Wednesday as general manager Ron Hextall said that Travis Konecny is expected to play versus Columbus. Konecny has enjoyed a blistering stretch since being elevated to the top line before injuring his left foot while blocking a shot from Jeff Petry on Tuesday. "You want to have everybody available, and we'll see at gameday who is ready to go," coach Dave Hakstol told Philly.com on Wednesday. "Whoever is in will have to do a good job. Hopefully T.K. will be a part of that."
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 22, 2018
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, NBCS Philadelphia
Betting Tip: Jackets Win @2.60 (+160)