Harry Zolnierczyk recalled as Flyers send sick Sean Couturier home

Sean Couturier missed last night's game in Toronto with the flu, and since the flu is a thing that is contagious, and generally speaking, getting a hockey team sick during the season is a bad thing, the Flyers have sent him back home.

Tom Sestito's done an okay job recently when he's hit the lineup, but the fact of the matter is that he's only playing six minutes a night at most. He's not a replacement for Sean Couturier or really anybody else in the lineup. Peter Laviolette needs a skill player in that spot who can play at least 11 or 12 minutes, and thus, the Flyers have made a move with five games remaining on the trip.

According to the Post-Star, the Flyers have recalled Harry Zolnierczyk from the Phantoms and we'd expect him to take Sestito's spot in the lineup tonight against the Winnipeg Jets. I'd guess that Laviolette and the Flyers like Harry Z's presence as an "energy guy" and that's why he's getting the call over, say, Eric Wellwood.

Zolnierczyk was named an assistant captain in Adirondack this season. He has 17 points in 46 games so far. He played 33 games with the Flyers last season and was a Black Ace with the club during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Flyers will return home after tonight's game in Winnipeg as they have two full days off before playing just up the Turnpike in New Jersey on Friday night, so don't assume Couturier is out for the entire rest of the road trip. He could easily re-join the team before the trip ends or even before Friday's game if he's better in time.