Dave Isaac

@davegisaac

VOORHEES — Both center Sean Couturier and goalie Steve Mason were on the ice Monday afternoon in the first post-All-Star break practice for the Flyers.

Both players were on the shelf with what the team called "lower-body injuries" for the last two games before the break.

Mason said last week in Washington that he was dealing with an ailment that had been "lingering for the last couple of weeks." He didn't dress for the Flyers' win against the Capitals last Wednesday.

"I don’t think it’s anything too serious," Mason said at the time. "We’re in a stretch where we have a little bit of time to take some rest. That’s what we’re doing. Hopefully come the end of the break here we’ll be ready to go."

Couturier wasn't a huge surprise, but the Flyers had been extremely tight-lipped about what kept him off the ice. He last played Jan. 19 against Toronto. He was on the ice for the last faceoff of the game, which the Flyers lost and led to the Maple Leafs' game-winning goal. He hadn't practiced with the team since then.

The team put its second-line center on injured reserve last Tuesday and felt the effects of his absence. In the three games he's missed since the last time he played, the Flyers have put together a top-heavy lineup with Jake Voracek, Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds all on one line and haven't gotten much scoring in other places in their lineup.

Without Couturier in the lineup this season the Flyers are 2-5-1. It's unclear if Monday's lone practice will be enough of a primer for him to dress Tuesday when the Flyers return to action against the Montreal Canadiens.

Dave Isaac; (856) 486-2479; disaac@gannettnj.com