Flyers’ Tyson Foerster to play Thursday after missing the last 49 games with an upper-body injury
Foerster, 24, has not played since Dec. 1, when he hurt his arm/shoulder after taking a one-timer against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had 10 goals in 21 games before undergoing surgery on Dec. 15.
Tyson Foerster will make a surprising return to the Flyers’ lineup on Thursday against Detroit, the team announced via social media.
The winger hasn’t played since Dec. 1 after undergoing surgery in mid-December to repair what the Flyers designated as an “upper-body” injury. He suffered the injury while following through on a one-timer against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has missed the Flyers’ last 49 games.
Foerster, 24, also had surgery in the offseason after a right-elbow injury he picked up during the World Championships last spring became infected.
“His hockey IQ is outstanding,” coach Rick Tocchet said Thursday. “You saw in the beginning of the year, his shot ability, plays all situations, he’s a hockey player. He gets it done. We’re excited for him. He worked hard for four months, a lot of lonely nights by himself.”
Tocchet said Foerster was tested by the medical team Wednesday and that his blistering shot should be back to full strength. The coach wouldn’t say whether he planned to limit Foerster’s minutes in his return, but he pointed to the energy Foerster had already brought to the ice in practice since coming back.
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“He’s a huge boost for our group, not only on the ice but also in the locker room, too,” said Owen Tippett, who will play on a line with Foerster against the Red Wings. “He’s a good presence, and we’ve missed him all year. He’s been around a lot more lately. He’s been energetic and brings energy into our room.”
Initially projected to miss the entire regular season, Foerster returned to the ice for practice on March 17 and has been progressing toward this late-season return. Flyers general manager Danny Brière recently acknowledged that Foerster was getting closer and joked that the winger would be banging down his door to play before the end of the season.
Before the injury, Foerster had tallied a team-high 10 goals and 3 assists in 21 games, mostly playing alongside Noah Cates and Bobby Brink, who was traded at the deadline to Minnesota. Tippett described that group as the Flyers’ “best line” last year and to begin this season.
Foerster was lined up on the left wing with Tippett and Trevor Zegras at morning skate Thursday. The returning winger was also on the top power-play unit with Zegras, Christian Dvorak, Travis Konecny, and Rasmus Ristolainen.
“He sees the ice really well,” Tippett said. “He brings a lot of guys to him with, obviously, the threat he has as a shot, and it’ll be fun to get him back out there, whether we stick or not.”
Foerster, who had a career-high 25 goals last season, rejoins the team in the thick of a playoff push with eight games remaining in the regular season. The Flyers are two points out of the final wild-card spot with a game in hand on Columbus, and three points back of the New York Islanders for third in the Metropolitan Division with two games in hand.
Thursday, which will also serve as Porter Martone’s home NHL debut, will mark the first time the Flyers will have their full complement of wingers in Foerster, Tippett, Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, Martone, and Denver Barkey, all slated to be in the lineup.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.