NHL Hockey Player News

The severity of Carter Hart's mid-body injury isn't fully known but he has officially been ruled out of Friday's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Ersson to serve as the starting goalie. The Flyers have struggled when Hart has not been between the pipes, as is evident by Ersson's 4.91 GAA and .763 SV% in three games (0-3-0). To boot, the Flyers will be without Sean Couturier and are facing a Buffalo Sabres team that has outscored their opposition 19-11 in their last four games (3-1-0).

Coronato has played 10 games with the Flames this season, registering one point (0G / 1A) and 23 shots on goal while averaging 13:54 time-on-ice per night but has been reassigned to the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL. In a related move, the Flames have recalled Martin Pospisil.

With Matt Coronato being reassigned to the Wranglers (AHL), the Flames have recalled Pospisil. Pospisil was the 105th overall pick of the Flames in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has yet to play a game at the NHL level. The Slovak forward has six points (3G / 3A) in six games with the Wranglers this season.

Bryson will sit in the press box as a healthy scratch on Friday to make room for Connor Clifton, who will return to the Sabres lineup after serving a two-game suspension. During those two games, Bryson registered a -1 plus/minus, four blocks, and two hits while averaging 10:56 time-on-ice.

Clifton was suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head of Nico Hiscier on October 27th. Clifton skated alongside Erik Johnson on the third pair in Thursday's practice, which is where he will likely suit up when he returns to the lineup on Friday vs. the Flyers. Prior to the suspension, Clifton had one assist, a minus-6 rating, 12 SOG and 23 hits in eight games.

Jost has played seven games for the Sabres, recording two points (1G / 1A), but is expected to be a healthy scratch on Friday night. The Sabres will welcome Lukas Rousek into the lineup for his season debut.

Couturier has played all 10 games for the Flyers this season, recording eight points (2G / 6A), but will not play on Friday due to a lower-body injury. Injuries are extra concerning when it comes to Couturier but, fortunately for the Flyers, this does not seem to be related to the back complications that forced him to miss the majority of the previous three seasons. Couturier missed the 2022-23 campaign in its entirety due to injuries and only played 74 combined games in the two seasons prior.

Hart left the Flyers' Wednesday night game against the Buffalo Sabres midway through the first period with an apparent mid-body injury and did not return. Outside of being ruled out for Friday's game, the severity of his injury hasn't been confirmed yet but any extended absence will be a huge loss for the Flyers as he has been off to a terrific start, posting a 2.52 GAA and .913 SV% through eight games (4-3-1). Samuel Ersson will start on Friday in his absence.

Tuch will play on Friday after not participating in practice on Thursday. In 10 games, Tuch has seven points (1G / 6A) while averaging 18:06 time-on-ice, over a full minute less than his average ice time during the 2022-23 season.

With Zach Benson (lower-body) being placed on the injured reserve and Tyson Jost being a healthy scratch on Friday, Rousek is expected to make his season debut. In eight games with the Rochester Americans (AHL) this season, Rousek has six points (2G / 4A).

Benson has missed five of the last seven games with a lower-body injury and has been placed on the injured reserve, retroactive to October 29th. The rookie has two points (0G / 2A) along with six shots on goal while averaging 13:17 time-on-ice through six games.

Harvey-Pinard played only 5:06 before needing to leave the game with an undisclosed injury. Entering Thursday night's game, Harvey-Pinard was averaging 14:23 time-on-ice and had four points (0G / 4A) in nine games. Alex Newhook jumped onto the top line to replace Harvey-Pinard after his exit.

Kastelic left Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings after suffering an undisclosed injury. In nine games, Kastelic has been held without a point while racking up 21 penalty minutes and eight hits. He is expected to miss the next few games.

Greig played only three shits on Thursday, 2:05 time-on-ice, before being forced to leave the game with an undisclosed injury. Though Greig's injury isn't considered overly concerning, he is still expected to miss the next few games. Greig has seven points (2G / 5A) through nine games and was having a noticeable impact as a rookie for the Senators this season.

Liljegren played only 4:49 before falling awkwardly into the boards after getting tangled up with Bruins' forward Brad Marchand. Liljegren left the game with a lower-body injury and the early update from Sheldon Keefe did not sound promising as he will likely "miss significant time." In 10 games this season, Liljegren has one point (0G / 1A), 18 blocks, and six hits.

Luukkonen appears to be the starter on Friday as the Sabres search for their third consecutive victory. Luukkonen has saved 61 of the last 63 shots he's faced (.968 SV%) over the last two games (2-0-0) and is currently doing everything in his ability to ensure he continues to see game-action, even with a healthy Devon Levi in the roster. The Sabres are -162 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has been outscored 15-8 over their last three games (0-3-0) and will likely be without their starting goalie, Carter Hart.

Clifton was suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head of Nico Hiscier on October 27th. Clifton skated alongside Erik Johnson on the third pair in Thursday's practice, indicating that he'll be back in the lineup on Friday vs. the Flyers. Prior to the suspension, Clifton had one assist, a minus-6 rating, 12 SOG and 23 hits in eight games.