VOORHEES — When the Flyers go for their 10th consecutive victory in Colorado on Wednesday, they’ll be doing so with Shayne Gostisbehere back on the ice.
After missing the 1-0 win over Detroit on Sunday with an injury he suffered the game before when Dallas’ Jordie Benn struck his right hand, Gostisbehere’s status remained day-to-day.
That was put to rest, though, on Tuesday when he was seen as a full participant during practice at the Skate Zone.
“I’m ready to go,” Gostisbehere said.
Head coach Dave Hakstol later confirmed the news, saying it’s no surprise he was out there today.
When asked about the game he missed, Gostisbehere said it “just made more sense” to have someone who is 100% to play over him.
“You’ve got to put the team first there, and it worked out for us,” Gostisbehere said.
His brief absence concludes at just the right time. Fellow blueliner Mark Streit will miss the next two weeks with a sprained left shoulder. Had he and Gostisbehere not been able to play on Wednesday, Nick Schultz would have been inserted into the lineup, with a possible call-up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as a seventh defenseman.
None of that matters, though, as Gostisbehere re-enters the picture, having picked up an assist in each of his last four games and in five of his last six games.
On the season, the sophomore defenseman has 16 points on four goals and 12 assists. His nine power play points place him tied for fourth with four others for the most by a defenseman.
