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Flyers Injury Updates: Ristolainen, Foerster Out Longer

Originally posted on Philly Hockey Now
By Jonathan Bailey | Last updated 2/14/24

After Owen Tippett and Jamie Drysdale’s dubious absences from practice Wednesday, we have some Philadelphia Flyers injury updates straight from the horse’s mouth.

The Flyers released a post shortly following the conclusion of practice sharing that Tippett and Drysdale both had maintenance days. For Tippett in particular, this was evidenced by Scott Laughton’s double-shifting on the power play units during that section of practice.

As for Tyson Foerster and Ramsus Ristolainen, they’re both expected to be out for the Flyers for a little bit longer than expected. The team shared prior to Friday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes that they were hopeful that both players would return by the weekend. That no longer seems to be the case.

Injury updates per Flyers GM Daniel Briere:

• Owen Tippett & Jamie Drysdale both have maintenance days today.

•Tyson Foerster (minor lower body) needs a few extra days, but long term problems are not expected.

• Rasmus Ristolainen (minor upper body) is being checked. No…

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 14, 2024

The Flyers do not expect Foerster to be out long-term, and added that Ristolainen is being evaluated further.

“I miss him on the bench,” head coach John Tortorella said of Foerster. “I certainly miss him on the bench, and quite honestly, not the offensive part of the game. He’s probably one of our stronger defensive players, and probably the strongest with his stick.”

Flyers power plays today at practice

Frost, Farabee, Laughton, Konecny, Zamula

York, Sanheim, Couturier, Atkinson, Laughton

Remember, no Tippett or Drysdale today

— Jon Bailey (@ByJonBailey) February 14, 2024

“Tyson was a guy I was double-shifting; left wing, right wing,” Tortorella added. “That’s what’s so encouraging to me with him, is that at such a young age, how much I’m looking for him in parts of the game where it takes a few years to teach players.”

“He’s got it.”

The Flyers’ bench boss was less expressive when talking about the absence of Ristolainen, instead praising the team’s litany of defenders ready to step up and play in the Finn’s place.

“Someone else fills in, that’s the way it works,’ Tortorella said bluntly. “We have eight D. That gives other guys other opportunities for ice time. We just go about it; injuries are part of it.”

There were some reports that the Flyers could be missing Ristolainen for a couple weeks as he undergoes a minor procedure and is then reevaluated from there. That isn’t expected to last through the NHL trade deadline unless the blueliner’s condition worsens or there is another complication as a result.

Fortunately, it appears the Flyers have avoided the worst with this slew of injuries.

This article first appeared on Philly Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.

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