Shayne Gostisbehere sidelined 7-10 days, giving younger defensemen a chance to crack Flyers’ lineup

Shayne Gostisbehere will miss seven to 10 games because of a minor MCL sprain, opening the way for some younger defensemen to get into the Flyers’ lineup.

Samuel Morin took his spot Sunday against New Jersey and was paired with Phil Myers.

In upcoming games, Egor Zamula, who was added to the Flyers’ taxi squad Sunday, and Cam York could be in the lineup. York is with the AHL’s Phantoms.

» READ MORE: How will Flyers get better? GM Chuck Fletcher has interesting options. | Sam Carchidi

Flyers coach Alain Vigneault praised Zamula’s play at Lehigh Valley and said he was a possibility to replace Gostisbehere in upcoming games. He said the team’s focus was on “winning some games, and if we get the opportunity to look at a couple guys we’ll probably do that, also, moving forward.”

Gostisbehere was injured in Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Rangers. He has eight goals and 16 points in 37 games.

Goalie Carter Hart remained sidelined by a mild knee sprain and missed his fifth straight game. Brian Elliott was Sunday’s starter.

Hart suffered the injury in a 2-1 shootout win in Pittsburgh on April 15.

“It’s just taken a little longer than we expected,” Vigneault said. “I know Carter wants to get back and playing with his teammates, but he still feels a little discomfort. We’ve had four different doctors take a look at the MRI; they all say the same thing -- a mild sprain.”

Vigneault said minor sprains usually heal in seven to 10 days, but the Flyers were “being a little bit cautious. I know how badly he wants to get back at it. He knows a goaltender never plays at 100%. That’s the toughest position in hockey, and he wants to help his teammates.”

Vigneault said he was hopeful Hart would “get the green light” to start skating this week.

After being benched for a game, Nolan Patrick replaced Nic Aube-Kubel on Sunday and played on a line with left winger Oskar Lindblom and rookie center Jackson Cates.

Patrick, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft, has just four goals, four assists, and a minus-20 rating in 43 games. He missed all of last season with a migraine disorder.

“Any time off for any player is difficult, and to that extent, it had to be really hard for him,” right winger Travis Konecny said before Sunday’s game. “And that’s not even touching what he went through.”

Konecny said Patrick has been “in good spirits. Always smiling around the rink and working hard to get where he wants to get back to. He’s just fun to be around. As much as he feels like he might not be where he wants to be at, he’s still a good teammate every day.”

In addition to Zamula, the Flyers put goalie Felix Sandstrom on the taxi squad, perhaps an indication he will soon get his first NHL start. Sandstrom, 24, had a 37-save performance in the Phantoms’ 3-2 win Saturday over Binghamton. ... Defensemen Linus Hogberg and Mason Millman were sent from the taxi squad to the Phantoms. .... The Flyers, on Sunday, started a stretch in which they play four straight games against the Devils.