Official News of your Philadelphia Flyers



APR. 21

4:56 p.m.



LAUGHTON INJURY UPDATE

Flyers GM Ron Hextall released the following statement to the media:



“Scott was released from the hospital and is doing well. However, he will not accompany the team to Washington and we will have an update in the next couple of days.”



The Flyers take on the Capitals in Washington on Friday for Game 5 of their First Round series (7 p.m., CSN & 97.5 The Fanatic).



APR. 20

11:15 p.m.



SCOTT LAUGHTON UPDATE

Following the Flyers’ 2-1 win over the Capitals in Game 4, Flyers GM Ron Hextall announced an injury update on forward Scott Laughton to the media:



“Flyers forward Scott Laughton will be staying overnight at Jefferson Hospital for precautionary reasons. All tests are negative.”



Laughton was injured after taking a hit from defenseman John Carlson and falling into the boards with 3:49 remaining in first period. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher.



APR. 18

5:30 p.m.



FLYERS RECALL EIGHT PLAYERS FROM LEHIGH VALLEY

Prior to the start of



Defensemen: Mark Alt, Davis Drewiske, Robert Hagg & Samuel Morin

Forwards: Cole Bardreau, Chris Conner & Taylor Leier

Goaltender: Anthony Stolarz



Alt completed his third full season with the Phantoms. He recorded 19 points (4g-15a) in 72 games and posted a career high of +11, which was +26 improvement from the previous season (-15).



Drewiske completed his first season with the organization. He appeared in 73 of 76 games while recording nine points (4g-5a).



Hagg finished his second full season with the Phantoms, recording 11 points (5g-6a) in 65 games. He was selected by the Flyers in the second round (41st overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.



Morin completed his first season since turning pro and tied for second on the team’s defense in scoring with 19 points (4g-15a) and led the team in penalty minutes (118). He was the only player on the Phantoms roster to have appeared in all 76 games. He was the Flyers first round pick (11th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft.



Bardreau also completed his first full pro season after appearing in 15 games in 2014-15 with the Phantoms coming off a four-year career at Cornell University. Bardreau recorded 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 54 games.



Conner averaged nearly a point per-game and led all Phantoms in scoring with 55 points (16g-39a) in 58 games. His 39 assists also led the team, while his 55 point total was one shy of his career high (56), set in 2009-10.



Leier finished his second full season with the Phantoms. He ranked second on the team in goals (20) and overall scoring with 49 points in 71 games. Leier also made his NHL debut on Nov. 14 with the Flyers and appeared in six total games, going scoreless and averaging 7:43 of ice time.



Stolarz finished his second full season by making five consecutive starts. He finished with a 21-18-7 record, a 2.61 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. He was one of two Phantoms to be selected to the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic, and was recalled to the Flyers on several occasions during the regular season, but did not make his NHL debut.



In their second season in their new home in Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms finished 2015-16 with a record of 34-35-7.



APR. 17

3:22 p.m.



FLYERS RECALL COLIN McDONALD

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall announced this afternoon that the club has recalled forward Colin McDonald from their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.



In his first season with the club, McDonald served as the Phantoms captain and recorded 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 51 games. He appeared in five games with the Flyers during the regular season, recording one goal while averaging 8:08 of ice time.



He signed a multi-year contract extension with the Flyers on Feb. 27. Originally, McDonald came to the Flyers organization during Free Agency last summer, signing a one-year, two-way contract on July 3, 2015, after he played the last three seasons between the NY Islanders and their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.



McDonald has appeared in 145 career NHL games with the Flyers, Islanders, Pittsburgh and Edmonton, during which time he has scored 19 goals and added 26 assists for 45 points. He was an AHL all-star in 2011 with Oklahoma City, a season in which he posted 42 goals and 16 assists for 58 points in 80 games.



APR. 16 Flyers GM Ron Hextall released the following statement to the media:“Scott was released from the hospital and is doing well. However, he will not accompany the team to Washington and we will have an update in the next couple of days.”The Flyers take on the Capitals in Washington on Friday for Game 5 of their First Round series (7 p.m., CSN & 97.5 The Fanatic).Following the Flyers’ 2-1 win over the Capitals in Game 4, Flyers GM Ron Hextall announced an injury update on forward Scott Laughton to the media:“Flyers forward Scott Laughton will be staying overnight at Jefferson Hospital for precautionary reasons. All tests are negative.”Laughton was injured after taking a hit from defenseman John Carlson and falling into the boards with 3:49 remaining in first period. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher.Prior to the start of Game Three between the Flyers and Capitals at the Wells Fargo Center , Flyers GM Ron Hextall announced that the club has recalled the following players from their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.Defensemen: Mark Alt, Davis Drewiske, Robert Hagg & Samuel MorinForwards: Cole Bardreau, Chris Conner & Taylor LeierGoaltender: Anthony StolarzAlt completed his third full season with the Phantoms. He recorded 19 points (4g-15a) in 72 games and posted a career high of +11, which was +26 improvement from the previous season (-15).Drewiske completed his first season with the organization. He appeared in 73 of 76 games while recording nine points (4g-5a).Hagg finished his second full season with the Phantoms, recording 11 points (5g-6a) in 65 games. He was selected by the Flyers in the second round (41st overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.Morin completed his first season since turning pro and tied for second on the team’s defense in scoring with 19 points (4g-15a) and led the team in penalty minutes (118). He was the only player on the Phantoms roster to have appeared in all 76 games. He was the Flyers first round pick (11th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft.Bardreau also completed his first full pro season after appearing in 15 games in 2014-15 with the Phantoms coming off a four-year career at Cornell University. Bardreau recorded 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 54 games.Conner averaged nearly a point per-game and led all Phantoms in scoring with 55 points (16g-39a) in 58 games. His 39 assists also led the team, while his 55 point total was one shy of his career high (56), set in 2009-10.Leier finished his second full season with the Phantoms. He ranked second on the team in goals (20) and overall scoring with 49 points in 71 games. Leier also made his NHL debut on Nov. 14 with the Flyers and appeared in six total games, going scoreless and averaging 7:43 of ice time.Stolarz finished his second full season by making five consecutive starts. He finished with a 21-18-7 record, a 2.61 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. He was one of two Phantoms to be selected to the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic, and was recalled to the Flyers on several occasions during the regular season, but did not make his NHL debut.In their second season in their new home in Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms finished 2015-16 with a record of 34-35-7.Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall announced this afternoon that the club has recalled forward Colin McDonald from their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.In his first season with the club, McDonald served as the Phantoms captain and recorded 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 51 games. He appeared in five games with the Flyers during the regular season, recording one goal while averaging 8:08 of ice time.He signed a multi-year contract extension with the Flyers on Feb. 27. Originally, McDonald came to the Flyers organization during Free Agency last summer, signing a one-year, two-way contract on July 3, 2015, after he played the last three seasons between the NY Islanders and their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.McDonald has appeared in 145 career NHL games with the Flyers, Islanders, Pittsburgh and Edmonton, during which time he has scored 19 goals and added 26 assists for 45 points. He was an AHL all-star in 2011 with Oklahoma City, a season in which he posted 42 goals and 16 assists for 58 points in 80 games.

6:55 p.m.



LAUGHTON IN

With Sean Couturier out for the remainder of this first round series, Dave Hakstol is turning to Scott Laughton to fill the spot in the lineup. Laughton will see his first professional playoff action in Saturday night’s Game 2 against the Capitals, skating at left wing on a line with Nick Cousins and Matt Read. Brayden Schenn will take Couturier’s spot at second line center, with Sam Gagner moving onto that line to play right wing across from Michael Raffl. Laughton was last in a playoff situation two seasons ago with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, when he recorded four goals and seven assists for 11 points in nine games. This past season for the Flyers, he had seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 71 games. Although Laughton was a healthy scratch in eight games during the Flyers’ stretch run, he appeared in three of the four contests against Washington this season, including the 4-3 overtime win on January 27 at Verizon Center. He had a goal and an assist in the Flyers’ final game of the season against the New York Islanders. Laughton was a first-round pick of the Flyers in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, selected 20th overall. He skated with the Flyers for five games following the end of the 2012-13 NHL lockout before returning to Oshawa. He split last season between the Flyers and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, appearing in 31 NHL games and 39 AHL games. During his time with the Phantoms, Laughton recorded 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points. The Flyers planned no additional changes to their lineup, sticking with the same defensive pairings in front of goaltender Steve Mason.

Fazleev (left) and Sanheim (right) each had career years with Calgary in the WHL.

Flyers GM Ron Hextall announced that center Sean Couturier will be out for two weeks with an upper body injury.The announcement comes after the Flyers held an optional practice today at the Verizon Center in Washington in preparation for Game Two.Couturier left midway through the second period in Thursday’s 2-0 loss to the Capitals in Game 1. He appeared in 9:04 of ice time, 2:47 of which came on the team’s power-play, while recording one shot on goal.During the regular season, Couturier posted 39 points (11g-28a) in 63 games, while averaging 18:36 of ice time per-game. His 28 assists were a new career-high, while 39 points matched his career-high set in 2013-14 having played all 82 games that season.Game Two of the First Round series is a 7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet or listen live on 97.5 The Fanatic.Flyers center Sean Couturier left the game with just under nine minutes remaining in the second period and did not return. Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said Couturier has an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated Friday.Couturier was carrying the puck up the left wing and had just played a cross-ice pass when he was checked into the boards by Alex Ovechkin. Couturier remained on the ice long enough to pick up a loose puck and dump it into the Washington zone, but he then skated to the bench and went directly to the Flyers locker room.“Obviously [Couturier] is a huge piece of our team. He goes down, but someone else has to step up. I thought we did a good job filling in for the short term,” said Wayne Simmonds.“I think guys stepped up. I think our penalty kill guys did a great job tonight,” added Steve Mason, who stopped 29 of 31 shots in the loss.Couturier played all 82 games in each of the last two seasons, but he missed 18 games this season with three separate injuries. He was out for six games from Oct. 24 – Nov. 3 with an upper body injury, for three games from Jan. 21-27 with a lower body injury, and then missed another nine-game stretch with a lower-body injury from Feb. 6-20. The Flyers were 5-9-4 in those 18 games.The Flyers resume practice on Friday in Washington before a rematch at the Verizon Center in Game 2 on Saturday night at 7 p.m.The Philadelphia Flyers announced this afternoon that they have loaned goaltender Anthony Stolarz to their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.Stolarz was recalled to the Flyers on emergency conditions on March 20, when it was announced that Michal Neuvirth would be out of the line up for three weeks. The 6-6, 232-pound goaltender has served as backup for Steve Mason in all nine games since his recall, but has yet to make his NHL debut after turning pro last season.His last appearance in game action was on Mar. 18 with the Phantoms, a 3-2 loss in which he made 34 saves.The Flyers recently signed Ray Emery to a contract for the remainder of the season on Apr. 1, while also agreeing to terms with netminder Alex Lyon on an entry-level contract after completing his season at Yale University.The Flyers will be without defenseman Andrew MacDonald when they start their season-ending, four-game-in-five-night stretch on Wednesday night in Detroit. General manager Ron Hextall announced Monday that MacDonald will miss Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day.MacDonald left Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh just before the halfway point of the third period after he was checked into the boards by Pittsburgh’s Tom Kunhackl. He did not return.With MacDonald out of the lineup, head coach Dave Hakstol will likely turn to Evgeny Medvedev, who has been a healthy scratch recently. The 33-year-old Medvedev has three goals and eight assists for 11 points, along with a plus-5 rating, in 44 games during his first season in North America.MacDonald’s news leaves the Flyers with only six healthy defensemen, at least temporarily. Should there be any more injuries on the blue line, they have a variety of options at the AHL level with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms if they need the depth. Davis Drewiske came up for a week in November and although he did not appear in a game, he has 135 games of NHL experience with Los Angeles and Montreal. Mark Alt, who appeared in one game for the Flyers last season, leads the current Phantoms roster with a plus-7 rating in 66 games.The Phantoms also have blueline prospects Robert Hagg and Samuel Morin; Hagg is concluding his second professional season, while Morin is wrapping up his first pro campaign. Some more defensive prospects have been making their way to Allentown – Reece Willcox made his pro debut this past weekend and picked up his first AHL goal, while Travis Sanheim is on his way from the WHL after the Calgary Hitmen were eliminated from the playoffs. Ivan Provorov’s Brandon Wheat Kings club is still playing, having taken a 3-2 lead over Edmonton on Sunday in a first-round WHL playoff series.Prior to today’s Flyers-Penguins game, GM Ron Hextall updated the media on a few injuries and future transaction for the organization.Prospects Travis Sanheim and Radel Fazleev will eventually report to the club’s AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley as both have finished their junior season with the Calgary Hitmen.Sanheim recorded a goal and five assists for six points in the five game series vs. Red Deer, losing four-games to one. Teammate Radel Fazleev went scoreless in the five-game series.Both enjoyed successful regular seasons in the WHL. Sanheim finished fourth among all WHL defensemen in scoring with 68 points (15g-53a) having played just 52 games. After returning from an injury early in the season, he recorded at least a point in 31 of his 34 remaining games to end the year and lead all WHL d-men in average points per-game at 1.30.Fazleev led the Calgary Hitmen in scoring with 71 points (19g-52a) in 59 games, giving him new career highs in all three offensive categories.Oskar Lindblom, the club’s fifth round pick, 138th overall in 2014, joined the Phantoms last week and defenseman Reece Willcox, the Flyers fifth round pick, 141st overall in 2012, also recently joined the Phantoms. Both picked up their first point in Saturday’s win at St. John, with Willcox recording his first professional goal.In other Flyers news, Hextall added that goaltender Michal Neuvirth will begin skating on Monday to work his way back into the lineup. Returning before the regular season concludes is not impossible, but Hextall added that it wasn’t probable, based on the fact that he still needs practice time.“The plan right now is that’s he’s going to skate tomorrow,” said Hextall. “Unless something changes he’s going to skate tomorrow with Kim [Dillabaugh] and then hopefully join parts of practice shortly after that, maybe Tuesday.”Added Hextall: “It all depends. You have to go on the ice. ‘how do you feel?’… then you ramp it up a little more everyday and then we’ll see where he’s at by the weekend.”Neuvirth’s last start came in the club’s 3-2 win at Chicago on Mar. 16, where he stopped 24 of 26 shots.