The Flyers’ crowded crease is suddenly less crowded for the time being, as the club announced that Alex Lyon will miss approximately the next four weeks with a lower-body injury.
Per GM Ron Hextall, G Alex Lyon will be out approximately four weeks with a lower-body injury: https://t.co/QEq0s1KuTh pic.twitter.com/k6YsHDRxJb
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 20, 2018
Lyon suffered the injury —which the Flyers did not elaborate on— back on Tuesday night in Brooklyn during warm ups. The goalie was slated to start that game but it was Anthony Stolarz who ended up starting and playing the entire game. The Flyers announced that Lyon was out with the same lower-body injury moniker during that contest and now we know at least part of what happened.
The 25-year-old saw just 30 minutes of action this preseason, coming back on Sep. 16 vs. the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. It was an important camp for Lyon after making his first NHL appearance last season with the Flyers and earning a two-year extension that was signed back on July 7. Instead, the former Yale product will miss the first month of the season and presumably watch fellow netminders Stolarz and touted prospect Carter Hart get the lions share of the duties in Lehigh Valley with the Phantoms.
Just last season Lyon was a stalwart between the pipes for the Phantoms, leading them deep in the Calder Cup Playoffs with a sparkling 1.98 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. He played in 11 games with the Flyers, posting a 2.75 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
With both Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth healthy (for now) in Philadelphia, the four week prognosis from the Flyers on Lyon’s injury would have him missing just three of the Phantoms’ first games of the season. Barring injuries to Neuvirth or Elliott, Lyon was expected to begin the season with the Phantoms and be in competition for the first call up along with Stolarz.
More to come as we await word on just what is ailing Lyon…
