QUICK HITS: APRIL 1, 2022
1) The Flyers will hold an 11 a.m. practice today at the FTC in Voorhees. At Thursday's practice, Carter Hart, Oskar Lindblom and Keith Yandle were absent.
Flyers interim head coach Mike Yeo said that Hart (who missed Tuesday's game in Minnesota) and Lindblom (who missed one game last week) have each been dealing with nagging injuries but anticipates that both will practice on Friday and be ready to play on Saturday when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Wells Fargo Center. Hart could have backed up Martin Jones on Tuesday in a pinch, according to Yeo, but it made more sense for him to rest and to recall Felix Sandström on an emergency basis.
Yandle, who has played in an NHL record 989 consecutive regular season games, was under the weather on Thursday. Nick Seeler filled in for Yandle alongside recently signed rookie Ronnie Attard, who will make his NHL debut on Saturday.
Nate Thompson, who has recovered from shoulder surgery and last played on Nov. 26, has been cleared to play. Barring a setback, the 37-year-old fourth line center will play on Saturday. Patrick Brown moved over from center to left wing on Thompson's line at practice.
On Thursday, Scott Laughton once again practiced with the team. He has not yet been medically cleared to return from the concussion he suffered on March 10. Laughton was mixed and matched into reps at practice, primarily on left wing of the Kevin Hayes line.
2) The Flyers used the following combinations during line rushes at Thursday's practice:
49 Noah Cates - 86 Joel Farabee - 89 Cam Atkinson 42 Hayden Hodgson - 13 Kevin Hayes - 11 Travis Konecny 25 James van Riemsdyk- 48 Morgan Frost - 74 Owen Tippett 38 Kevin Brown - 44 Nate Thompson - 17 Zack MacEwen
9 Ivan Provorov - 45 Cam York 6 Travis Sanheim - 70 Rasmus Ristolainen 24 Nick Seeler - 47 Ronnie Attard
25 Martin Jones 32 Felix Sandström
Extras: 71 Max Willman, 21 Scott Laughton, 8 Kevin Connauton Not skating: 23 Oskar Lindblom, 3 Keith Yandle, 79 Carter Hart
3) On PhiladelphiaFlyers.com, I took a look at the opportunities and challenges for the young NHLers and "young vets" on the team over the final 15 games of the 2021-22. From Cam York being moved up to the top pairing alongside Ivan Provorov to the NHL debut and home debut of Noah Cates and the likes of Travis Konecny and Joel Farabee having the chance to take on more of a leadership role, there are motivating factors. The same goes for Morgan Frost, Owen Tippett, Travis Sanheim (now receiving power play time) and others.
The 2021-22 campaign will go down in history as one of the most underachieving -- in fact, downright disastrous -- in Flyers team history. However, as the organization heads toward an offseason in which it faces a host of massive challenges, the players on the roster have an opportunity over the final month to show that they can be part of the long-term solution. This is especially important because the team currently has limited cap space to make dramatic upgrades over the summer.
For more, click here.
4) Free Stream Alert: Tonight's Lehigh Valley Phantoms game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will be streamed for free on AHL-TV. Game time is 7 p.m. ET. The Phantoms (22-27-11) saw their longshot playoff hopes take a significant hit last weekend as they fell 11 points behind the Pens (29-26-8) for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. While still mathematically possible given that the Phantoms have played three fewer games than W-B/S and two fewer games than Bridgeport (64 points), the odds of getting into the postseason are very slim for Ian Laperriere's team.
Wade Allison (13 GP, 7 goals, 6 assists) has been back in the Phantoms lineup for the last five games since his most recent injury; a skate cut on his arm that required stitches and kept him out for a week. Tanner Laczynski (15 GP, 4 goals, 5 assists) got off to a quick start after returning from preseason hip surgery but is still working to get all the way back to where he was before having operations on both hips over the past year.
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APRIL 23: FLYERS ALUMNI WALK, RUN, STROLL
The Flyers Alumni's Walk/Run/Stroll event at Washington's Crossing State Park will take place on Saturday at Washington's Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County. There will be 1k, 5k, and 10k courses. All proceeds benefit the Flyers Warriors program along with the YMCA of Bucks County's Veterans Wellness Initiative. Participating Flyers Alumni at Washington's Crossing include Brad Marsh, Bob Kelly, John LeClair, Mark Howe, Paul Holmgren, Dave Schultz, Steve Coates, Tim Saunders and more.
Can't make it to Washington's Crossing on the 23rd but want to participate some other way? One option is to participate in a virtual/remote walk (either your own, or one organized by someone else). Several Flyers Alumni who either live outside the Delaware Valley or will be traveling out of the area on the 23rd will be doing their own remote walks for the cause.
One such remote event is being organized by Flyers Hall of Fame member Joe Watson. Watson and a group of friends will be walking at Ridley Creek State Park starting at 9:00 a.m. ET.
I'm getting ready for my walk this Saturday at Ridley Creek State Park to support the @FlyersAlumni Walk/Run/Stroll fundraiser.
— Joe Watson Official (@JoeWatsonHockey) March 29, 2022
Want to join me? Sign up here:https://t.co/3G4kPfKYjF pic.twitter.com/4IIzXfiiXy
Another option: Make a donation to the event.
Fundraising is NOT required in order to participate. However, there are some pretty cool incentives for participants who also raise funds. The top level ($1,000 raised) includes a private meet-and-greet event with the Flyers Alumni in the brand-new Alumni Lounge at the Wells Fargo Center plus a pair of tickets for the April 29 season finale against the Ottawa Senators.
In order to register for the event -- and for complete details on the courses, participation options and fundraising incentives -- visit the Flyers Alumni Walk, Run, Stroll official website,