Tony DeAngelo will return to action with the Philadelphia Flyers against the New York Rangers on Saturday (7:00 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The defenseman missed four games, including two following the death of his grandmother, Jo-Ann DeAngelo.
READ ALSO: Sedlak leaves the Flyers to play in the Czech Republic
“My grandmother on my father’s side,” she said. We were very close. »
DeAngelo learned the news before the Flyers’ game against the Arizona Coyotes on December 11.
“He was always telling me that no matter what, he didn’t want me to miss a game, but I could never play last week,” he added.
DeAngelo had been sidelined in two games before leaving the Flyers. He has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) and leads Philadelphia in average ice time (24:19) in 26 games. He also has a minus 12 differential, the worst of any Flyers defenseman.
“I have to play a little better,” admitted DeAngelo. I knew. Of course, you don’t want to be left out of training. And even if I don’t agree, it’s not my decision. But I can offer more. I’ve been a bit inconsistent in the last two games. But I feel like I’m back on track, like at the beginning of the season. Can’t wait to get back to work tonight. »
Video: COL@PHI: DeAngelo finds back of net in AN
Kevin Hayes will be let out on Saturday. The forward was benched in the third quarter in Thursday’s 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils.
Hayes leads the Flyers with 29 points (nine goals, 20 assists) in 31 games. Philadelphia is averaging 2.39 goals per game, the third worst average in the NHL, but head coach John Tortorella has defended his decision.
“I can’t let things go because we worry about our offence,” he said. I need to think more globally about what this team is going to be, what standards we need to set and how we need to play. All of this is much more important than losing the offensive punch in a particular game. »
Patrick Brownwho was out on Thursday with an upper body injury, will play.
Even the flyers remembered bellows Kieffer of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL), and dropped forward Lukas Sedlak’s name in an attempt to terminate his contract. He will return to play in his native Czech Republic.
