Mark Streit set to return; Michael Del Zotto may sit out
SAN JOSE, Calif. _ Mark Streit is expected to return to the Flyers' lineup Wednesday in San Jose, but another defenseman, Michael Del Zotto, seems iffy after he had to leave Monday practice early.
SAN JOSE, Calif. _ Mark Streit is expected to return to the Flyers' lineup Wednesday in San Jose, but another defenseman, Michael Del Zotto, seems iffy after he had to leave Monday practice early.
Del Zotto, who sat out an inartistic 4-2 loss Sunday in Anaheim because of an undisclosed upper-body injury, is still listed as day-to-day.
Injured in the Flyers' 4-3 win over St. Louis on Dec. 21, Del Zotto left the ice during his second drill Monday after taking a pass "that kind of gave me a lot of discomfort and pain. I decided it wasn't the smartest idea just to battle through the pain."
Coach Dave Hakstol said Streit was on pace to play his first game since Nov. 12. He has been sidelined after surgery to repair a pubic plate displacement.
"It feels strong and my skating is strong," Streit said Monday after a 90-minute practice at Sharks Ice. "There are no restrictions at all and I feel comfortable. It's just a matter of getting my timing back."
The next move?
According to general manager Ron Hextall, when Streit returns, the Flyers will have to clear less than $300,000 in salary-cap space to allow impressive rookie Shayne Gostisbehere to stay on the roster. The Flyers have other options, including putting R.J. Umberger on waivers and, if he clears, sending him to the Phantoms. Sam Gagner could take Umberger's spot in the lineup.
Hakstol was asked if Gostisbehere (14 points in 19 games) deserved to stay.
"Ghost has added an element," he said. "He has things he has to improve on; our entire team, including me, has to improve off of our performance of [Sunday] night. But certainly, he's been a good player for us."
Good enough to stay?
"We'll decide that in the next 24, 36 hours," he said. "It all has to fit together."
Gostisbehere is expected to stay and remain on the first power-play unit, with Streit quarterbacking the second unit.
The 22-year-old Gostisbehere is taking the team's decision in stride.
"It's out of my control," he said. "I just have to focus on playing the game and making it hard for them to send me down. I'm just focusing on what's in my control."