More bad news for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Flyers GM Ron Hextall announced this afternoon that forward Travis Konecny will be out 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury.
Konecny's loss will be sorely felt in Philly's top six forward group. Konecny brings speed and high end skill on a shift by shift basis.
The Flyers are 26th in the NHL right now with only 82 even strength goals for in 54 games played. The Flyers have been shutout in two straight must win games.
Konecny was injured in Monday's loss vs. St. Louis. He skated 8:13 TOI before he was injured.
The 19-year-old rookie has 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points. He is tied for fifth on the team in scoring, while averaging 14:36 TOI in 51 games played.
Konecny was a healthy scratch for Saturday's 1-0 OT loss to Los Angeles.
Konecny made the season opening roster from training camp after three seasons in the OHL (Ottawa & Sarnia) and made his NHL debut on October 14 at LA where he posted two assists.
He has yet to miss any time this season due to injury.
The Flyers are clinging for dear life to a wild card playoff berth right now. They hold a wild card by only one point. A prolonged losing streak would cripple the Flyers and cause them to likely miss the postseason tourney.
Look for Flyers GM Ron Hextall make a trade for a top six forward to replace Konecny in the short term. Before the Konecny injury, Hextall was looking around the NHL for the right fit top six forward to add even strength and PP scoring to the failing Flyers offense.
Evander Kane? Matt Duchene? Gabe Landeskog?
Look for Hextall to entertain trade offers for 23 year old super sophomore defender Shayne Gostisbehere who has been a healthy scratch the past three games.
Hextall has organizational depth at defense that would cushion the blow of a Gosmtisbehere trade. For example, Hextall can promote homegrown products Robert Hagg, Sam Morin , or Travis Sanheim to replace "Ghost" in the Flyers lineup for the foreseeable future.
More to come on the Flyers and their downward spiral.
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Tale Of the Tale: San Jose @ Buffalo
* This is the first of two meetings between the Sabres and Sharks this season.
* Last meeting: Buffalo defeated San Jose 3-1 in San Jose on February 26, 2016
* Next meeting: Tuesday, March 14 in San Jose
* The Sabres are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games vs. the Sharks; 8-1-1 at home
*This is the 36th game all-time between Buffalo and San Jose; Buffalo has a 23-6-6 series record.
*The Sabres are 16-1-1 at home against the Sharks all-time.
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Evander Kane has scored 14 goals in his last 29 games.
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San Jose is 16-6-0 against the Eastern Conference this season.
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Sharks D-man extraordinaire Brent Burns will bring a remarkable eight-game road goal-scoring streak into tonight’s game. According to Elias, he is the first defenseman in NHL history to score a goal in eight consecutive road games. The Norris and Hart Trophy candidate continues to lead all NHL defensemen in goals (22) and points (55).
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Sharks sniper Logan Couture has at least one point in seven of his last eight games, posting four goals and five assists over that span. Jack Eichel has 23 points (12G, 11A) in 31 games played this season. Eichel has 13 points in 14 home games , including five multi-point games . ***
Sabres projected starting lineup.
Foligno – Eichel – Reinhart Moulson – O’Reilly – Okposo Kane – Girgensons – Gionta Bailey – Deslauriers – Ennis Kulikov – Ristolainainen McCabe – Franson Gorges – Falk Nilsson Lehner
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Anaheim Ducks rear guard Sami Vatanen will miss his second consecutive game tonight in Manhattan with a lower-body injury suffered during the second period of Anaheim's 2-1 loss against the Panthers on Friday.
Vatanen hasn't skated since Friday, however, on Monday Ducks bench boss Randy Carlyle said he doesn't expect Vatanen to be out of the lineup on a long-term basis.
Rookie sensation Brandon Montour, recalled from AHL San Diego, scored first career NHL goal against Tampa. Montour will play beside Cam Fowler tonight.
Montour, Fowler and the Ducks will be in Buffalo on Thursday.