Couturier out 4 weeks with lower-body injury

The Flyers potential playoff hopes may have suffered a major blow.

In just his second game back from injury, Sean Couturier left Thursday's 6-3 Flyers win in Nashville and did not return. On Friday, the update on the forward could not have been worse.

Couturier will be out approximately four weeks with a lower-body injury, GM Ron Hextall announced. The Flyers have recalled Nick Cousins from the Phantoms to fill the roster spot.

The Flyers are 21-12-7 with Couturier in the lineup and just 2-6-1 without him.

Couturier has nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 40 games this season.

Despite having R.J. Umberger and Jordan Weal currently on the healthy scratch list, the Flyers tapped into the Phantoms roster for Cousins. Cousins has played four games with the Flyers this season and played 11 games with the team last season. He has not recorded a point at the NHL level yet. With the Phantoms, Cousins was an AHL All-Star this season and has 12 goals and 26 assists on the season for 38 points in 38 games.

Weal has played just one game with the Flyers. Umberger was recently scratched and is in the midst of a 50-game goalless drought.

The Flyers face a crucial weekend, playing back-to-back games against the New York Rangers on Saturday and the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.