The Flyers may finally be getting some relief from the injury pileup that’s helped drag their 3-8-4 start into the league’s basement. Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett both skated at practice on Friday, and that alone was a notable sight for a team that has spent much of its first 15 games piecing together a lineup on the fly.
Tippett was in a regular black jersey. Konecny wore a non-contact jersey, though that label didn’t seem to slow him down much.
He was still taking contact and jumping into 2-on-2 drills, looking like a player ready to test the limits more than a player easing in. It was a rare practice day for the Flyers, who have three days between games, and both wingers were right there in the mix.
After practice, Rick Tocchet left the door open for both players to return Sunday against the Utah Mammoth. He said it depends on how the next few days go, but added that they’re super close.
The lines Tocchet used at practice hinted at where this might be headed. Per Charlie O’Connor, the forward groups looked like this:
Trevor Zegras - Christian Dvorak - Cole Knuble/Travis Konecny
Porter Martone - Noah Cates - Matvei Michkov
Alex Bump - Sean Couturier - Tyson Foerster
Michael Bunting - Denver Barkey - Owen Tippett
O’Connor also said Zegras spent time at center on the top line, with Konecny and Knuble rotating through that spot. Noel Acciari was not at practice after a minor injury scare in Washington, so his status is still up in the air.
For a team that could use a shakeup, Tocchet kept a lot of the structure intact. The Martone-Michkov pairing stayed together, with Cates between them.
The Couturier line also remained untouched, and for good reason. In Wednesday’s loss to the Capitals, that trio was on the ice for just under 10 minutes but still posted a 13-7 edge in shot attempts, a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal, and scored Philadelphia’s only 5-on-5 goal of the night.
The biggest change, if Konecny is good to go, is up top. Konecny appears headed for a first-line role with Zegras and Dvorak, a spot he occupied plenty before getting hurt. With Zegras moving over to the wing, the Flyers would be putting last season’s two leading scorers together and hoping that combination can generate something for an offense that badly needs it.
Tippett’s possible landing spot is a little deeper in the lineup, alongside Barkey and Bunting. On paper it would be the fourth line, but it has more bite than that label suggests.
Barkey has put together a couple of solid outings, and Bunting may have extra fuel after being scratched. It may not be the cleanest showcase for Tippett’s return, but it’s a workable place for him to slide in.
That setup brings one obvious question: where does Cole Knuble fit if Konecny is ready? Knuble has rotated into the top line looks at practice, but if Konecny is available, the 22-year-old could be the odd man out and possibly head back to the AHL. He’s shown enough energy and willingness to battle through traffic to make a case for sticking around, but the Flyers may decide they need the steadier lineup Konecny and Tippett can provide.
Another path would be more movement elsewhere. Bunting could be scratched again, which would open the door for Knuble to move down with Barkey and Tippett.
And if Acciari’s absence lingers, the roster math gets even tighter. Bunting would automatically become the 13th forward, while the rest of the group would appear locked into place.
That could leave Alex Bump and Knuble in the most direct fight for the last spot, with the two young wingers battling to prove who deserves to stay in the mix.
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