Brink will be a healthy scratch on Friday, exiting the lineup for the first time in over a month, allowing Nicolas Deslauries to draw back into the lineup. Brink has been held off the scoresheet in five straight games and has seen his ice-time dip to 12:07 after averaging 14:44 and scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in his previous 10.
Deslauries was a scratch in the last game after playing in three straight games for the Flyers but will return to the lineup on Friday. In his last outing, he played 7:43 time-on-ice, recorded three hits, and two shots on goal while playing on a line with Garnet Hathaway and Ryan Poehling.
It's another tough blow in what's been a frustrating season for Zegras, as this most recent injury puts him on track to return in late February at the earliest. He previously missed almost six weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered on November 7th, and endured a slow start to his season prior to that. He has just four goals and three assists in 20 games on the year.
Juulsen stepped in on Tuesday for Ian Cole, who has a healthy scratch for maintenance reasons but will return to the lineup on Thursday. Juulsen played 14:43 time-on-ice, had a -1 plus/minus, and one hit.
Zegras played only 2:05 time-on-ice before suffering a lower-body injury and exiting the game in the first period. The talented Zegras has been limited to only 20 games this season, scoring seven points (4G / 3A) in a disappointing season riddled with injuries. Zegras joins Leo Carlsson (lower-body) on the sidelines, a major blow for an Anaheim Ducks team that already ranks fourth-worst in the league offensively (2.53 GF / GP).
Deslauries played in each of the last three games for the Flyers but will be a healthy scratch on Monday. In his last outing, he played 7:43 time-on-ice, recorded three hits, and two shots on goal while playing on a line with Garnet Hathaway and Ryan Poehling.
After a very busy December for Ersson, due in part to Carter Hart being out of the lineup because of an illness, Ersson will make only his second January start on Wednesday. Despite being winless in his last two starts, Ersson has been terrific lately for the Flyers, boasting a stellar .926 SV% in 12 games (8-2-2) since mid-November. The Flyers, who have lost five of their last six (1-3-2), have a favourable matchup as -175 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens club that has scored three or fewer goals in five of their last six games (2-4-0).
Juulsen was a healthy scratch for the Canucks first game of their back-to-back Monday but will draw back into their lineup Tuesday vs. New York. The 26-year-old will replace Ian Cole (maintenance) and has yet to score in 26 games in 2023-24, but has two assists, 12 PIMs and 11 SOG.
Dysdale was traded for Cutter Gauthier is a surprise deal Monday and is expected to make his Flyers' debut Wednesday vs. Montreal as he partners with Travis Sanheim. The 21-year-old offensive defensemen heads to Philly after collecting five points (1G/4A) in 10 games after missing most of the early season due to a tornn labrum injury.
It's a shocking move considering Anaheim selected Drysdale sixth overall just three and a half years ago in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Drysdale had played ten games with the Ducks this season, scoring one goal and adding four assists and was recently promoted to the team's top power-play unit. In exchange, the Ducks acquire the fifth-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Cutter Gauthier.
Juulsen has been a regular in the lineup for the Canucks since mid-November but will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the New York Rangers. In 28 games this season, Juulsen has two point (0G / 2A), 66 hits, and 45 blocks.
Gilbert suffered an upper-body after an awkward collision in Thursday's game against the Nashville Predators. The Flames have recalled defensive prospect Yan Kuznetsov in the interim as we await further evaluations for Gilbert.
Vladar will get the surprise nod in Nashville on Thursday, making his first appearance since Jacob Markstrom returned from a finger injury on December 18th. Vladar was solid his last time out, stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced enroute to a 4-2 victory over the Lightning. This presumably sets Vladar up to start a pair of games this weekend as the Flames are set to play a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. He draws a difficult matchup on Thursday with the Flames being slight underdogs at +105 in Nashville.
Deslauriers was a healthy scratch for the Flyers' previous contest but will draw back into the lineup Thursday on the fourth line. The 32-year-old grinding left-winger has yet to score in 2023-24, but has three assists, 34 SOG, 39 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 36 games played.
The Flyers' goaltending carousel continues Thursday as Samuel Ersson will take the crease for the second time in three games after backing up Carter Hart in a Flyers loss last game. The 24-year-old Swedish netminder has performed well in his second career season, with his 9-5-2 record, 2.54 GAA, .902 SV% and two shutouts so far in 2023-24. He hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday, who have lost five of their last six games and are 16th in the NHL in goals per game (3.08).
Dvorak will undergo surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle on Friday and will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Before his injury, Dvorak had two points (2G / 0A) in his last 10 games, playing predominantly alongside Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.
It appears Deslauriers will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as the Flyers opt to dress seven defensemen against Connor McDavid and the Oilers. Deslauriers has no goals and three assists in 36 games this season.
