QUICK HITS: JANUARY 30, 2018
1) The Flyers featured a new line at practice on Monday. Jakub Voracek moved from his customary right wing spot to left wing and played on a combination with rookie center Nolan Patrick and right winger Wayne Simmonds. Although points have remained tough to come by for Patrick, the Flyers have been encouraged by his overall play and higher success rate in puck battles than earlier in the season.
"It starts with having the puck more, winning more of the 50-50 battles," Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said prior to the NHL All-Star break. "I think he's settled in when he has the puck and is making plays."
Prior to the break, Hakstol said that he felt Patrick's early season injury that kept him out from Oct. 24 to Nov. 16 was a bigger setback for the 19-year-old center than the offseason bilateral hernia repair surgery he underwent.
With the new Patrick combination being formed, Valtteri Filppula centered Jordan Weal and Michael Raffl. Tyrell Goulbourne and Jori Lehterठremained with Scott Laughton and the likely healthy scratches remained Taylor Leier and Dale Weise.
2) The Flyers did not have either of their goalies at practice on Monday. Veteran Brian Elliott, recovering from a minor lower-body injury, say out practice but is expected to be ready when the schedule resumes on Wednesday. Michal Neuvirth was ill and unable to practice, per general manager Ron Hextall. In lieu of their regular goalies, the Flyers had a local goalie stand in at one end of the ice and used a shooter tutor at the other end.
3) Phantoms veteran defenseman T.J. Brennan scored three goals and rookie left winger Oskar Lindblom chipped in one assist for Team Atlantic in the round-robin 3-on-3 mini-tournament that comprised the 2018 AHL All-Star Game in Utica, NY on Monday. Team Atlantic defeated the Central team, 5-3, then lost 4-3 to Team Pacific and 4-3 to Team Northeast.
4) Flyers goaltending development coach Brady Robinson is currently in Sweden working with prospect Felix Sandström. The Flyers' 2015 third-round draftee has been on loan from SHL team Brnyà¤s IF Gà¤vle to Allsvenskan (minor league) team Oskarshamn IK while rehabbing from hiatal hernia surgery. In five games played to date with OIK, Sandström has posted a 3-2-0 record, 2.74 GAA and .914 save percentage.