Flyers trim Carsen Twarynski and Tyrell Goulbourne; roster almost set
The Flyers made more roster cuts as they prepare for Thursday's opener in Las Vegas.
The Flyers on Friday sent wingers Carsen Twarynski and Tyrell Goulbourne to the AHL's Phantoms, trimming their roster to 31 players.
Coach Dave Hakstol said he was impressed with both players and "there very easily could be a time this year where there's an opportunity" for them to be recalled by the Flyers.
The roster includes five injured players: Samuel Morin, Alex Lyon, Michal Neuvirth, Pascal Laberge, and Corban Knight. Knight, a center, was injured in Thursday's 4-2 preseason loss to the Rangers, and he did not practice Friday.
The Flyers have 26 healthy players and are expected to start the season with 23 players. The three likely players in camp who won't start the season with the club: center Jori Lehtera, defenseman Mark Friedman, and goalie Carter Hart. (That said, Hakstol spoke highly of Lehtera on Friday.)
Lehtera practiced with the team Friday for the first time since news broke Wednesday that he was a suspect in a Finland drug ring. The NHL is investigating.
"You guys will see I haven't done anything wrong," Lehtera said.
Hart and Anthony Stolarz are in contention for the backup goalie spot. Lehtera is battling Dale Weise, Taylor Leier, and perhaps Knight (if he quickly regains his health) for a spot.
Sean Couturier and Wayne Simmonds are expected to make their preseason debuts in Saturday's game in Boston.
Here were the Flyers' lines at Friday's practice:
Couturier centering Claude Giroux and Travis Konecny.
Nolan Patrick centering Oskar Lindblom and Jake Voracek.
Mikhail Vorobyev centering James van Riemsdyk and Simmonds.
Lehtera centering Scott Laughton and Michael Raffl.
Jordan Weal centering Leier and Weise.
D pairings: Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere; Travis Sanheim and Christian Folin; Andrew MacDonald and Robert Hagg; and Friedman and Radko Gudas.
It will be interesting to see if Folin beats out Gudas for a spot in Thursday's opener at Vegas.
Breakaways
GM Ron Hextall said he would have an injury update Saturday on Knight. … Chris Therien, who had been a rink-side announcer on NBC Sports Philadelphia, confirmed he will have a role in the Flyers' marketing department this season. He is now a Flyers employee and not with NBC Sports Philadelphia.