Goaltender Brian Elliott could return for the Philadelphia Flyers against the Carolina Hurricanes, which is a very big deal.
Elliott earned the starter’s role after arriving with the Flyers as a free agent for this season. He suffered a lower-body injury Jan. 23, returned for three games in early February and aggravated that injury.
Overall he is 21-11-7 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.
“He’s practiced hard,” Flyers general manager Ron Hextall told reporters. “He feels pretty good, so… it’s no different than getting another player in who has been out. If we can get him in, great. But it’s got to be best for the team.”
The Flyers need better goaltending. They are clinging the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference bracket.
In Elliott’s absence, Michal Neuvirth suffered a lower-body injury, rookie Alex Lyon filled in, Petr Mrazek arrived in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings and Neuvirth returned and aggravated his injury.
After an encouraging start, Mrazek has struggled for the Flyers. Overall he is 6-6-3 with a 3.22 GAA and an .983 save percentage.
Lyon has been better, going 4-2-1 with a 2.75 GAA and .905 save percentage. But Elliott is the man the Flyers want to rely on for postseason play.
AVALANCHE MISSING VARLAMOV
Elsewhere on the goaltending front, The Avalanche are relying on back-up Jonathan Bernier in their final playoff push with starter Semyon Varlamov sidelined by a knee injury.
Varlamov was 24-16-6 record with a 2.68 GAA, .920 save percentage and two shutouts this season. More recently he was 9-3-3 with a 2.11 GAA and .939 save percentage during a 16-game stretch.
If the Avalanche miss the playoffs, this injury could prove to be the deciding factor.
MILLER FILLING IN FOR DUCKS
The Anaheim Ducks turned to back-up Ryan Miller after starter John Gibson got hurt again. Miller closed a critical 4-3 overtime victory over Colorado, then beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1.
“That’s a veteran player there,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle told reporters after the Colorado game. “He wasn’t rattled by the situation. He just goes in and does his job. That’s why you pay for that experience. He was calm and cool even though they scored two goals. He held us in there and made some stops for us. He allows you to get your feet underneath you.”
