Flyers center Sean Couturier out for the season after undergoing successful back surgery

Sean Couturier underwent successful back surgery on Friday morning, the Flyers announced. The first-line center will be out for the remainder of the season.

Couturier had missed the last 17 games while on injured reserve with what was described as an “upper-body injury.” Captain Claude Giroux has been filling in on the top line at center in Couturier’s absence.

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In late December, Fletcher revealed that Couturier was dealing with “various upper-and lower-body injuries all year,” but he was continuing to play despite not feeling 100 percent. On Friday, Fletcher elaborated that the back specifically started bothering Couturier in the fall. Shortly after he entered COVID-19 protocols over the holiday break, Couturier was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 30.

At the time, Couturier was described as “week-to-week.” Couturier made appearances on the ice in rehab skates with both other injured players and in solo skates. As the Flyers fell further and further out of playoff contention, the likelihood Couturier returned this season became more and more remote.

Couturier tried to treat his back through non-surgical methods at first, receiving a couple of epidurals, according to Fletcher. However, Couturier and his doctor conclusion that the best way to resolve the problem was to undergo surgery. The injury is not expected to be a lingering problem.

“There was things we looked at non-surgically that may have helped short-term, but there were some concerns about long-term,” Fletcher said. “So the procedure he had today, to the best of everybody’s knowledge at this point, should resolve the issue.”

Per Fletcher, Couturier’s return-to-play timeline is three months. He is expected to be ready for training camp next season.

Couturier, who signed an eight-year, $62 million contract extension in the offseason, finishes the season with 17 points in 29 games. The Flyers have been decimated by injuries at center, with Kevin Hayes, Patrick Brown, Nate Thompson, and Derick Brassard, all having missed extensive time.

Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen will be out of the lineup against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, interim head coach Mike Yeo said Friday. On Thursday, Yeo described Ristolainen as “a little banged up” following the Flyers’ 6-3 loss to the Red Wings on Wednesday night.

Before practice Friday morning, Ristolainen participated in a rehab skate with fellow injured players Hayes, Brown, Joel Farabee, and Tyson Foerster.

While Ristolainen was held out of practice again, Giroux and winger Cam Atkinson returned after missing practice Thursday. Giroux was given a maintenance day after returning from the All-Star Game and Atkinson was feeling the lingering effects of an illness he played through Wednesday. Both will be in the lineup Saturday, according to Yeo.

On Wednesday night, Ristolainen was added to the second power-play unit. Yeo shuffled the unit’s personnel Friday in practice, adding forward Scott Laughton to the mix. The second unit now comprises Laughton, Brassard, Gerry Mayhew, Oskar Lindblom, and Keith Yandle.

Additionally, Kevin Connauton will take Ristolainen’s place on the second defensive pairing alongside Travis Sanheim.

Goalie Carter Hart (30 games played, 2.88 goals against average, .913 save percentage) will get the start in net Saturday. Yeo said that the coaching staff heavily considered going with backup Martin Jones, who hasn’t started a game since Jan. 25 against the New York Islanders. This month’s schedule has complicated the starting goalie cadence. “Obviously February is really light, and then March and April are going to be heavy,” Yeo said. “We’re going to need both goalies going at that time. On the flip side, if we didn’t play Hartsy in this game, then you’re looking at him playing one game in basically two weeks as well.”