Photo: Nina Weiss/Flyerdelphia
Sometimes, injury presents opportunity. And in situations like that, it throws patience clear out the window.
R.J. Umberger was announced to be out for at least one-to-two weeks on Thursday. He was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, and is now joined by Mark Streit, who is on long-term injured reserve after having surgery that is scheduled for Tuesday.
To take their roster spots, the Flyers have removed Pierre-Edouard Bellemare from injured reserve and called up defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and forward Taylor Leier.
Gostisbehere has two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 14 games at Lehigh Valley while posting a minus-2 rating.
Leier has four goals and five assists in 14 games and is a plus-1.
The Phantoms have scored 13 goals in their last two games.
Bellemare returns after suffering an injury on Oct. 27 against Buffalo. He had one goal in eight games, but his return should stabilize the defense and penalty kill, which was playing well with his presence on the ice.
Umberger had missed the last two games with a lower-body injury. In 11 games, Umberger has four assists.
Streit was placed on long-term injured reserve after needing surgery to repair a pubic plate detachment, meaning he must be out a minimum of 24 days. The Flyers said that the recovery from this injury will likely be six weeks. Streit had three goals and six assists in 16 games.
The Flyers are in Carolina to face the Hurricanes on Saturday night before returning home for two more games next week.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
