Flyers F Tyson Foerster (arm) out five months

Philadelphia Flyers forward Tyson Foerster is expected to miss five months following surgery on his right arm, the team announced Wednesday.

The timeline would keep Foerster out past the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, should the Flyers qualify.

Foerster was injured shortly after scoring his then-team-leading 10th goal of the season in the second period of the Flyers' 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 1. He sustained the injury while taking a shot on goal, as he clutched his right shoulder while coming off the ice.

Foerster was placed on injured reserve two days later and was expected to be out two-to-three months.

Further evaluation, however, led to the decision for Foerster to have surgery on Monday as opposed to just rehabilitation alone.

Foerster, 23, got off to a fast start while playing in the first season of a two-year, $7.5 million contract. He added three assists and a plus-7 rating in 21 games.

He set career highs across the board with 43 points (25 goals, 18 assists) in 81 games last season, his second full campaign with Philadelphia.

Foerster has totaled 96 points (58 goals, 38 assists) in 187 career games since being selected by the Flyers with the 23rd overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.