Tyson Foerster’s improbable return from injury has given the Flyers’ playoff hopes a boost

It may sound like a broken record at this point, but the word “belief” comes to mind when speaking of Tyson Foerster. Although he thought he would be out for the whole season, the Flyers forward believed in himself.

“Honestly, I was joking with all of [my teammates] that I was going to be back for it,” Foerster said of playing during the stretch run. “But they didn’t think so. But here we are.”

Indeed. Here we are.

Foerster unexpectedly — to outsiders — returned to the lineup on Thursday. The winger hadn’t played since Dec. 1, when he suffered an injury during the follow-through of a one-timer against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He underwent surgery in mid-December to repair an upper-body injury and missed 49 games.

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Despite being out for four months, Foerster picked up right where he left off. He scored in that game against Pittsburgh before he was injured, and he scored again in his return against the Detroit Red Wings. But it wasn’t the goal that helped him realize he was ready to go — he credited the hometown faithful.

“I think actually, when they were announcing the starting lineup is when it really hit me that I’m back, when the fans were going nuts, so that was pretty cool to see,” he said.

Rehab skating since January, the winger hasn’t missed a beat despite noting that the speed of the game has been elevated since he last played. And the Flyers got back Foerster at the right time. In his three games, he has one goal and eight shots, and is playing a 200-foot game that is elevating the Flyers’ offense, defense, and special teams.

Foerster, who has 11 goals and 14 points in 24 games, is doing what he does best: Paying attention to the little details.

“I’m sure you guys noticed, but I noticed that even in the corner, just a little bit of a play to keep the puck possession, body position, just a little play to our guy, instead of losing the puck. He’s a real smart player,” coach Rick Tocchet said after the Flyers’ practice on Monday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, which began with picture day.

“Even for a guy like him, even if he doesn’t have his A-game, he contributes. … Sometimes those guys are whatever, might not have their best night in the legs, but somehow they contribute. He’s that type of guy for us. He’s a real glue guy for us.”

» READ MORE: Flyers playoff picture: Updated standings and wild-card chances

Playing on his off-wing with Trevor Zegras down the middle and Owen Tippett on the right, the trio has meshed quickly. According to Natural Stat Trick, across a smidge over 28 minutes together at five-on-five, they have 25 shot attempts — seven from high-danger spots — with 10 shots, 14 scoring chances, and have scored twice. They have been on the ice for two goals against.

Tocchet likes the chemistry they have, especially giving Zegras options on each wing with shooters.

“You got Tipp, who just flies, and then you got Tyson, who can make a play under pressure or shoot under pressure,” the bench boss said. “So, you know that’s a line, it’s dangerous. The last couple of games, you saw the other team match their best line, or best defensive pair; that’s a compliment to those guys.”

Added Foerster: “Yeah, it’s been fun. We always have fun out there, and I think we can battle a little harder. I think the last couple of games we’ve kind of been soft, a little bit soft, but I think we’re always going to get chances to score, and that’s really what we’ve got to do.”

Asked at the end of last season if his mindset was going to change with the hard-nosed, shot-block-demanding John Tortorella gone, Nick Seeler said, with a big grin, “No. I’m going to play the same way.”

Well, that’s a good thing because, according to NHL.com, the Flyers defenseman is donating $50 for every shot he blocks this season to the DinoMights, a hockey program similar to Snider Hockey that serves children in Minneapolis.

“Well, I’ve been involved with DinoMights for a few years with my family. My dad’s on the board at DinoMights … and then one of my sisters worked with DinoMights when she was back playing,” the Eden Prairie, Minn., native told The Inquirer. “That’s kind of how I found out about it and my parents and I came up with that idea.

“Just kind of a fun way to be able to give back and support DinoMights. So, obviously, have quite a few blocks, so we thought it was a good way to do it.”

A “few blocks” is an understatement. A puck-eating machine, the 32-year-old Seeler sits at 928 career blocked shots across 448 games since he made his NHL debut on Feb. 13, 2018, for his hometown Minnesota Wild. Since his debut, he ranks 31st in the NHL despite playing fewer games over that stretch than only one player ahead of him, Alec Martinez (1,184).

The rugged blueliner has 133 blocked shots this season with five games remaining on the schedule. The donation is currently sitting at $6,650.

“It’s fun. It’s something my parents instilled in me, just to be able to give back when you can, and develop those kinds of underserved communities and faith-based, which is important for me, and just a great experience for those kids.”

Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had a maintenance day on Monday.