Flyers' Streit out 2 weeks with shoulder injury
Suddenly, the Flyers have health issues with their defense. Mark Streit suffered an injury to his left shoulder in the third period of the Flyers' 1-0 overtime win in Detroit on Sunday, and after he was examined Monday, the Flyers announced he would miss two weeks.
Suddenly, the Flyers have health issues with their defense.
Mark Streit suffered an injury to his left shoulder in the third period of the Flyers' 1-0 overtime win in Detroit on Sunday, and after he was examined Monday, the Flyers announced he would miss two weeks.
In the previous game, Shayne Gostisbehere injured his right hand in a 4-2 victory Saturday over Dallas. He sat out Sunday's win and is listed as day to day.
With Gostisbehere sidelined, Streit ran the first power-play unit from the point Sunday. If Gostisbehere can't play Wednesday in Colorado, rookie defenseman Ivan Provorov may get a look on the first power-play unit.
If Gostisbehere can't play, Nick Schultz, a healthy scratch the last 16 games, would go into the lineup.
Voracek honored
For the second straight week, a Flyer has been named the NHL's No. 1 star. Right winger Jake Voracek is this week's winner.
Voracek had nine points in four games, including his eighth career overtime goal - and second of the season - in last Tuesday's 3-2 win over Florida.
The Czech Republic native is the first Flyer to rack up four or more points in consecutive games since Eric Lindros on Dec. 31, 1997 and Jan. 3, 1998.
Goalie Steve Mason was the No. 1 star last week.
Voracek, 27, has led the Flyers' nine-game winning streak - the longest in the NHL this season - by collecting 15 points during their surge.
He has bounced back nicely after what, for him, was a subpar season - 55 points, 26 fewer than the previous season (81).
"He looks like he did two years ago," general manager Ron Hextall said before the win in Detroit.
Hextall said last season's slump was "typical" for a player after he signed a long contract extension. Voracek signed an eight-year, $66 million contract before last season.
"Jake signed a big deal last year, and how many players do you see that try to do more than they are?" he asked. "We paid Jake for what he was, not for something more. You look at the history of the league and there are a lot of guys like that."
He meant players try to justify their hefty contracts
"I think Jake did feel a little bit of a burden [last season]," Hextall added. "He started pressing and pressing."
Not anymore.