Flyers Shayne Gostisbehere, Travis Konecny to sit vs. Kings on Saturday
Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and left winger Travis Konecny will likely be benched for the second straight game when the Flyers host Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon.
Both sat out Thursday's workmanlike 3-1 win over Montreal.
After Friday's practice in Voorhees, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol was asked if he sat the two players because he wanted a more grind-it-out approach by inserting defenseman Nick Schultz and winger Dale Weise.
"I can simplify it probably a little bit more - it's about winning hockey games," he said. "We're in the middle of a playoff battle here. We hope it's going to be a long battle because we think it's going to go right down to the wire. It's just about a roster and a lineup that gives us the best opportunity to win."
Hakstol said Konecny and Gostisbehere "are a very big part of things here, and they need to be a very big part of things as we continue through the next couple of months. They were the guys who were out for good reasons yesterday, and our team played well. I'm leaning toward a similar lineup for tomorrow."
Konecny and Gostisbehere both stayed on the ice long after practice ended and worked with assistant Gord Murphy, a sure sign they will not play Saturday.
"There are going to be some good players sitting out of the lineup. Nobody's beyond that," Hakstol said.
"I'm happy with those two kids," genereal manager Ron Hextall said. "There are learning curves, though, with young players that old players have been through. And they're going through some ups and downs now."
Hakstol said "more of the focus should be on the 20 guys who are in the lineup and the job they're doing."
Goalie Michal Neuvirth will make his second straight start for the first time since he had four consecutive starts from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5.
Los Angeles has one of the NHL's best defenses. Offensively, the Kings have struggled, and they are led by former Flyer Jeff Carter, who has 26 goals and 46 points.
Tonight's honorees. Gostisbehere will be honored for his brilliant rookie season when he receives the Philadelphia Pro Athlete of the Year award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association on Friday night. The 6:30 p.m. banquet will honor numerous people, including Eric Lindros (Living Legend award) and the Flyers Wives Fight for Lives (Ed Snider Lifetime Humanitarian award). Tickets for the event, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, are available at the door or by calling 267-546-7277. After the banquet, former Flyers captains Bill Barber and Lou Angotti will sign free autographs for those with tickets.
Breakaways. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto is still day to day with a leg bruise; he did not skate Friday....Defenseman Phil Myers is close to returning to his junior team after suffering a concussion, Hextall said.
