Flyers Notes: Flyers promote Holmstrom from Phantoms

DENVER - Center Ben Holmstrom was promoted from the AHL Phantoms on Sunday and is expected to replace Sean Couturier in the Flyers' lineup Monday against Colorado.

Couturier suffered a head injury when a shot from teammate Kimmo Timonen caromed off his helmet in Saturday's 6-0 loss to Boston. The 19-year-old rookie was released from the hospital Sunday, and general manager Paul Holmgren said it was unknown if he had suffered a concussion. Couturier will be reevaluated Monday.

Holmstrom had eight goals and eight assists in 25 games with Adirondack. He was traveling to Denver and didn't arrive in time for Sunday's practice at the Pepsi Center.

"He's a natural centerman," coach Peter Laviolette said after practice, adding Holmstrom gives the Flyers an attractive option because of his ability on the penalty kill and face-offs.

Injured centers Claude Giroux (concussion) and Couturier are used on the penalty kill.

"We're getting thin in different areas, so we want to make sure we're covered positionally," Laviolette said. "If we decide to go down that road, it gives us options."

Laviolette said he would "absolutely" feel comfortable using Holmstrom on the penalty kill.

"That's what he does. . . . We used him that way in camp, [but] there's just not enough room for everybody. You can only keep 23 people," he said. "At that point, he didn't make the cut, but we used him to kill penalties in camp, and we were comfortable with him."

A three-day fan festival will be held outside Citizens Bank Park in conjunction with the Jan. 2 Winter Classic.

It will run from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2 on Citizens Bank Way between Phillies Drive and Pattison Avenue. There will be live music, interactive hockey-themed attractions with prizes, and tents with Winter Classic merchandise.

Spectator Plaza will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 1, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 2.

The Flyers also recalled defenseman Andreas Lilja, who had been on a condition assignment with Adirondack. . . . Laviolette said Saturday's wipeout to Boston "was a bad day for us. That's the best way to describe it." It was the Flyers' lone loss in eight December games. . . . Zac Rinaldo said he didn't think Milan Lucic deserved a suspension for the hit the Boston forward delivered on him Saturday. Lucic had a hearing scheduled on Monday. - Sam Carchidi