Although the Flyers snapped a four-game losing streak Monday night against the Flames, it wasn’t all good news for the Calgary visitors. Winger Travis Konecny left the game in the second period with an upper body injury caused by a heavy hit from Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.
After Weegar checked Konecny from behind near the tapes, the Flyers forward went straight to the locker room in some discomfort. Konecny would not return as the Flyers took a 4-3 victory.
Prior to the hit, Konecny had already tallied a goal and an assist earlier to bring his season-high points total to 54 in 52 games, more than he tallied in 79 games last season. The goal, which Konecny netted into the top left corner of the net after a fine display of skill, was the player’s 27th this year, a new career high.
Asked about Konecny after the match, John Tortorella couldn’t provide much information. « Really a big loss for us in a type of match like this, » said Tortorella, who did not have an update on the injury. “He has found his game. He is a very active player for us.
The Flyers’ victory in Calgary was only their second since the All-Star break. In that streak, the team has scored more than two goals only twice, and generating offense won’t be any easier for Philadelphia if Konecny, the club’s scoring leader, misses out. any time.
Currently sitting 24th in the league standings, the Flyers could see their roster change drastically over the next few weeks with the trade deadline looming. James van Riemsdyk and Kevin Hayes, the team’s only All-Star Game representative, are just two names that could be traded with the playoffs out of reach.
Konecny will earn $5.5 million AAV through 2025. The forward played the best hockey of his career under new Flyers coach John Tortorella and will be important to Philadelphia’s efforts to return to the playoffs in the years to come.
The Flyers wrap up their trip out west tomorrow night in Edmonton. Monday’s win improved their season record to 23-25-10.
