Sean Couturier is expected back in the Flyers lineup Monday vs. the Islanders

The Flyers got some good medical news on Sean Couturier, and the top-line center is expected to be back in the lineup Monday against the visiting New York Islanders.

Couturier, who has 19 points in 18 games, had an MRI on Sunday and it “revealed a former injury with his hip,” coach Alain Vigneault said before Monday’s morning skate. Vigneault said doctors are not concerned, and “believe he should be fine.”

Vigneault said it would be a game-time decision on whether Couturier would play Monday, but later said he expected him in the lineup. He missed Saturday’s 6-1 loss on Long Island against the Isles.

The three-game series, which ends Monday, is tied at 1-1. Overall, the Flyers (15-11-3) are 3-1 against the Islanders (20-8-4) this season.

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If Couturier returns, he would center James van Riemsdyk and Joel Farabee on the top unit; it would have a trickle-down effect, and Carsen Twarynski would come out of the lineup.

Vigneault called Couturier “probably our best and most consistent forward at playing the right way, at checking when it’s time to check, at making the right plays at the lines — and it’s all against tough opposition. So when he’s in our lineup, we’re a better team and I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but it looks good for tonight.”

Brian “Moose” Elliott (2.97 GAA, .892 save percentage) will return to the nets Monday for the first time since he started the infamous 9-0 loss Wednesday to the Rangers. He has been pulled from his last two starts and hasn’t won a start since March 4 in Pittsburgh.

In his career against the Isles, Elliott is 9-2-7 and has a 2.65 GAA.

Carter Hart (3.83, .875) will start Tuesday’s game against the visiting Devils, Vigneault said.

Hart will spend some extra time Monday working with goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh, and Alex Lyon will be Elliott’s backup Monday.

After being a healthy scratch the last three games, Shayne Gostisbehere will return to the lineup and replace Nate Prosser. Vigneault said he’s looking for more consistency in Gostisbehere’s defensive game.

Gostisbehere is a combined minus-8 over his last three games. On the flip side, he has five goals over his last 11 games.

In Monday’s game, these are the expected pairings: Ivan Provorov and Gostisbehere; Travis Sanheim and Justin Braun; and Erik Gustafsson and Phil Myers.

In five-on-five play, the Islanders have outscored their opponents, 72-52, while the Flyers have been outscored, 78-63. ... Claude Giroux has 60 points, including 19 goals, in 56 career games against the Islanders. Giroux is third in the NHL in faceoffs at 61.1% among players who have taken at least 100 draws. ... Matt Barzal has 21 points (7-14) in 15 career games vs. Philly. ... Isles coach Barry Trotz said his team will use “virtually the same lineup” that pounded the Flyers on Saturday.