Flyers’ Travis Konecny ruled out vs. Oilers with upper-body injury

EDMONTON, Alberta — After exiting Monday’s game early against the Calgary Flames, Flyers leading scorer Travis Konecny has been ruled out for Tuesday’s game vs. the Edmonton Oilers with an upper-body injury.

Konecny, who leads the team in goals (27) and points (54), took a heavy hit from behind from Calgary defenseman MacKenzie Weegar along the boards in the second period against the Flames. He curled up along the boards in visible pain until the play stopped, eventually getting to his feet and gingerly skating off. From there, Konecny headed straight down the tunnel and did not return for the rest of the contest. According to The Athletic’s Julian McKenzie, he was seen wearing a sling after the game.

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While Konecny went on a 10-game point streak from late December to mid-January, he recently had been in a scoring slump. He went eight games without a point and 13 games without a goal.

However, he was just starting to come out of it. He scored two goals against the Seattle Kraken on Feb. 16 and notched a point against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 18. Before suffering his injury on Monday, Konecny had added another goal and an assist against the Flames to extend his point streak to three games.

“He’s one of our catalysts offensively,” Noah Cates said. “We’re going to have to share the responsibility offensively (with him out).”

Konecny is also a key component of the Flyers’ penalty kill. The last time the Flyers played the Oilers, keeping out of the penalty box was one of the biggest factors of their success because the Oilers power play is very dangerous. If the Flyers do end up on the kill, Cates will have to step up.

Konecny previously missed six games in November with a right hand injury. The Flyers went just 1-3-2 during that stretch.

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In a team release, the Flyers said Konecny will be assessed by the team’s medical staff upon returning to Philadelphia.

Losing Konecny affects the lineup “tremendously,” coach John Tortorella said.

Kieffer Bellows will come in as the 12th forward while the rest of the lines shift. Bellows said he’s just been taking it day-by-day, advice he received from both his father, Brian Bellows, and the veterans on the team. He’s sad it took an injury for him to come in, but he’s hoping to make a difference and help bring more offense to the struggling team.

“When I go out there, I have that shooter mindset, and I’m trying to create offense,” Bellows said. “Anything I can do to help the team win. If that means they need me to score goals and make plays, I’ll do it. But if that means blocking shots and being good defensively, then that’s what I’ll do.”

Tortorella decided not to go with seven defensemen, like he did against the Vancouver Canucks. He is scratching Justin Braun and bringing Travis Sanheim back in. Sanheim was a healthy scratch against the Calgary Flames, a game where he had family attending.

Tortorella refused to explain what went into the decision.

“That’s between Sanny and I,” Tortorella said.

The Flyers will play the Edmonton Oilers at 9 p.m. ET. ... Carter Hart is starting goal. He will be facing Stuart Skinner, who Hart played in bantam hockey.