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\nTyson Foerster<\/p>\n
\nTyson Foerster<\/p>\n
PHILADELPHIA \u2013 Maybe if the Flyers were out of playoff contention, the Tyson Foerster wait might have lasted a little longer.
But with the team squarely in the hunt entering the last two weeks of the season, both the player and the team wanted to see him back in action.
So on Thursday night vs. Detroit, Foerster was scheduled to go back on the ice for the first time since Dec. 1. He has been sidelined for 49 games due to arm surgery.
At the morning skate, coach Rick Tocchet said he planned to keep an eye on Foerster\u2019s ice time but that didn\u2019t mean he wouldn\u2019t see a number of minutes on the team\u2019s top power-play unit.
In five-on-play, Foerster was slated to play on a top line with Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny.
\u201cHis hockey IQ is outstanding,\u201d Tocchet said about Foerster. \u201cHis shot ability, he plays in all situations. He gets it done. We\u2019re excited for him. He worked hard. Four months, a lot of lonely nights at the rink by himself. So I give him a lot of credit.\u201d
Foerster, 24, was leading the Flyers in goals (10) at the time of his injury. The Allison, Ontario native was also among the team leaders in plus-minus at plus-7.
Tocchet watched Foerster in recent workouts to see how well the recovery\/comeback was coming along. Ditto doctors who were running tests.
\u201cAll flying colors,\u201d Tocchet said. \u201cThat\u2019s why the doctors (signed off). We wanted to make sure his numbers were strong. He\u2019s ready to go.
\u201cI relied on him a lot (at the start of the year). But I also have to be careful too.\u201d
The coach said the rest of the players on the ice were \u201cbuzzing\u201d at the morning skate. First they get powerhouse Porter Martone right out of Michigan State on Tuesday night at Washington and now they get one of their more accomplished scorers in Foerster.
\u201cHe\u2019s a big part of our team,\u201d Tocchet said. Mindful of scratches, including Garnet Hathaway and Alex Bump, the coach said it\u2019s all about putting the best possible team on the ice for these meaningful games.
\u201cThat\u2019s good and bad for them but it breeds competition,\u201d Tocchet said. \u201cPut puzzles together. And who can complement whoever. Those are tough decisions but they\u2019re decisions that you have to make. But I love the competition. It makes people play with more urgency.\u201d
With the Flyers playing eight games in 13 days, having depth is actually a bit of a luxury.
\u201cA guy like Bump, he\u2019s not coming out because he\u2019s playing bad,\u201d Tocchet said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a numbers game. Lehigh (the Flyers\u2019 AHL affiliate) is fighting for a playoff spot, too. So it\u2019s kind of great for the organization, where we have this depth and where we\u2019re using them.\u201d<\/p>\n
>Martone report card<\/p>\n
Martone made his debut on Tuesday night in D.C. and Tocchet sounded satisfied with his effort.
\u201cAs the game went on he felt comfortable,\u201d the coach said. \u201cHe really had three or four chances in front of the net. He\u2019s like Tyson, they know how to get position to get the shot off. They\u2019re greasy (adept in close) but they can also make skilled plays. For him, all I want him to do is relax.\u201d<\/p>\n
>Goaltender decisions<\/p>\n
Tocchet decided to go back to goaltender Sam Ersson for the Red Wings game. Ersson entered the game 5-0-0 since Jan. 29.
Meanwhile, Dan Vladar allowed five goals in the Capitals game.
\u201cHe (Vladar) has been a rock for us,\u201d Tocchet said. \u201cEach guy\u2019s got to play, each game is equally important.\u201d
The Flyers get right back into action on Friday night at Long Island so it\u2019s a safe bet Vladar will get that start. Starting Ersson vs. Detroit gives Vladar an extra day of rest.
\u201cI mean \u2018Ers\u2019 has been running hot,\u201d Tocchet said. \u201cI mean it\u2019s really an easy decision for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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