VOORHEES, N.J. – After Sunday’s day off, the Philadelphia Flyers held practice at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, New Jersey, ahead of Tuesday’s date with the Washington Capitals.

It was a brief practice, consisting of rushes, followed by a 2v2 drill/game, wrapped up with some individual work while others left the ice.

Here is what you need to know from Monday’s practice.

Flyers practice attendance

Let’s start with the news. After being recalled on Saturday and then loaned back on Sunday in time to play for the Phantoms, Aleksei Kolosov has been recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers. That is because Sam Ersson remains out with his lower-body injury suffered in the second period of Thursday’s game vs. the Bruins.

From the sound of it, Ersson’s injury is nothing major, but with just two games left before the Olympic break, there is no need to rush the netminder back. That makes it seem like Dan Vladar will get the final two games in goal, Tuesday and Thursday, ahead of the break.

Speaking of Kolosov’s game vs. the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Penguins, the Phantoms lost 6-2, and Kolosov allowed all six goals. It’s hard to fully fault him, however. There has been a lot of back-and-forth for the netminder. He probably went back just to get a game in between recalls since he likely won’t see action in the NHL.

The Flyers’ other absence was Travis Konecny, who, according to the team, was out for maintenance.

Konecny could probably use a good break. He had been banged up the past few games and was even considered to be taken out of the lineup with an injury before the Bruins game, but the alternate captain powered through. He has been a warrior, yet still consistent for Philly. With two games left before the break, Konecny earned a day off to try to rest up.

Flyers lines & pairs

Forward lines were not really consistent. Without Konecny at practice, it was hard to fully run consistent groups. Many players bounced around; it seemed more about getting reps than playing with specific linemates.

For example, I saw Zegras take a rush with Bobby Brink and Owen Tippett on his wings. That was followed by a rep with Zegras on the left of Christian Dvorak, with Owen Tippett on the right. We know Zegras has to play center, given the Flyers only have four healthy players on the roster.

Nick Deslauriers had a really strong practice. I noticed a couple of good goals, beating Vladar. Maybe he can carry that momentum into Tuesday’s game and score his first goal (and point) of the season.

The defensive pairs were consistent throughout the practice. They were as follows:

Travis Sanheim–Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York–Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler–Noah Juulsen

Emil Andrae was rotating in with Nick Seeler, but Seeler took most of the reps.

After practice, Rick Tocchet talked about Emil Andrae possibly returning to the lineup before the break. The Flyers’ coach said it’s not ideal for him to be sitting for the next two, and he’d like to try and find a way to get him in the lineup, but for now, the left–right pair is more important, getting him back in the lineup.

It sounds like the options are Noah Juulsen or Emil Andrae, and Tocchet prefers the right-shot defenseman.

Read More: Flyers Loan Pederson Back to AHL, Recall Aleksei Kolosov; Team has 4 Healthy Centers

Trevor Zegras talks about his return to center

With significant lineup changes, Trevor Zegras has been playing center in the past two games after spending most of the season on the wing, primarily on the left.

After Monday’s practice, Philly Hockey Now spoke to Zegras about his return to the position.

Despite playing most of his games on the wing this season, Zegras said his return to the middle has been relatively easy. In fact, he says most of the game has remained the same for him.

Zegras told Philly Hockey Now, “When you play wing, sometimes you’re down low. So I wouldn’t say it’s like that big of an adjustment, maybe just a couple more faceoffs regularly, but for the most part, it’s pretty similar.“

Faceoffs have been an area of struggle for Zegras, who went 1/12 at the dot in the first game back down the middle. He had a much-improved 5/8 day in faceoffs vs. the Kings on Saturday.

Earlier in the year, he mentioned Sean Couturier as someone he could learn from in faceoffs. During the Flyers’ practice on 1/27, two days before the change, he got some extra work in at center.

Zegras reiterated that statement on Monday, saying, “[Couturier] is really helpful. He’s really smart with faceoffs. Any time you have questions or when you’re struggling, go to him. He has been a lot of help.”

The Flyers are in action next on Tuesday when they take on the Washington Capitals at 7:00 p.m. EST at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Read More: Couturier, Tocchet Discuss the Captain’s New Role